Political scientist Dr Kwame Asah-Asante has warned that the Mahama administration risks paying a heavy political price if it fails to decisively tackle illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Speaking on Joy FM’s AM Show on Tuesday, January 7, as President John Dramani Mahama marked one year in office, the University of Ghana lecturer described galamsey as one of the most troubling issues confronting the government so far.
Dr Asah-Asante, who heads the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, acknowledged that the government has rolled out several interventions, including military operations and specialised task forces, to combat illegal mining. However, he questioned the effectiveness of these measures, particularly the lack of prosecutions following arrests.
“My surprise is that a lot of people who have been arrested are not put before the court,” he said. “What are we doing?”
He warned that the environmental damage caused by galamsey continues to worsen, with water bodies across the country suffering severe pollution. According to him, reports from parts of the Central Region show that residents are now forced to buy a gallon of water for as much as five cedis because local sources have been contaminated.
“These are early warning signals to the government,” Dr Asah-Asante cautioned, stressing that the environmental and social costs of illegal mining are becoming unbearable for many communities.
He argued that failure to take firm action—especially through consistent prosecutions and the restoration of polluted rivers and streams—could turn galamsey into a major political liability for the administration.
“If they fail to address this, I’m afraid it’s one of the things that can send them home,” he warned.
Illegal mining remains one of Ghana’s most persistent national challenges, blamed for widespread forest destruction, pollution of major rivers and growing public health concerns. While successive governments have launched campaigns to curb the practice, enforcement and accountability have often been criticised as weak.
Dr Asah-Asante’s remarks add to mounting calls for tougher action as the Mahama administration enters its second year in office, with environmental protection and water security emerging as critical tests of leadership and governance.