Galamsey: A Toxic Mix of Greed, Corruption, and Poverty

Galamsey, derived from the expression “gather them and sell”, is a local term for illegal small-scale gold mining. To sum it up bluntly, it is a product of when greed, corruption and poverty meet. Galamsey is nothing new, in fact, it goes as far back as the 1980s. Now, for some of us—myself included—who were unaware of how long this has been going on, it’s pretty disappointing to learn. But let’s be honest, are we truly surprised? Because the reality is what’s an African country without corruption, right?

So What’s Happening Now?

On 21st September 2024, citizens took to the streets of Accra for a peaceful three-day protest against illegal mining practices and other issues affecting the country. Yet, just three days before, police secured an injunction against the demonstration, despite being informed by the #Freethecitizens movement three months in advance. During the protest, several arrests were made, and those detained were reported to have been held for 48 hours without food or water. Now I’ll be honest—writing this wasn’t easy. After seeing pictures, learning about the reasons why children are involved, and realising how long this has been happening, it’s hard not to get emotional. Initially, my aim was to approach this from a factual standpoint, but the more I researched, the more impossible it became to separate my emotions from the facts.

Exploitation and its Consequences

At what point do we, as a people, get tired of twerking for the approval of foreign interests, getting excited by dollars, pounds, or (in this case) yuan at the expense of our own?

When children and young adults are risking their lives just to scrape by and put food on the table, while those in power turn a blind eye, allowing foreigners –even their fellow Ghanaians—to thrive on the desperation of our people? Our soil is rich, and yet, we’re left with what? A country so wealthy in gold that it was once called the Gold Coast (a name given to us by European colonists) and Africa’s largest gold producer but the benefits of our riches and natural resources are only evident in a foreign man’s land. Yet, when Ghanaian citizens peacefully stand up for themselves and demand action—asking the very leaders who claim to be ‘building a better tomorrow’ to step in and stop the destruction of their land—look how quickly handcuffs and the legal system step into action. Unfortunately, for the everyday Ghanaian, there’s no bribing the ‘big dogs’ to make them care.

It is estimated that up to 50,000 people participate in galamsey, including thousands from China, neighbouring West African countries, and Ghanaians themselves. Rivers once vital to communities, like the Ankobra River, are now so polluted with mercury and other toxic chemicals that they’re unsafe for drinking. Deforestation and soil erosion caused by illegal mining have destroyed vast areas of fertile land.