Galamsey Expert: Industry Has Become a Way of Life, Threatening Ghana’

Galamsey Has Become a Way of Life, Says Industry Expert

Convener of the OneGhana Movement and Trustee of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, Senyo Hosi, has described the situation in the country's mining sector as dire. Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews, he said galamsey, or illegal small-scale mining, has evolved beyond an illicit activity into a major source of livelihood for many people.

Galamsey's Widespread Acceptance

The socioeconomic reality is that galamsey has become a livelihood, said Mr Hosi. "It is so endemic, you can hardly separate it from the path of politics, economics and community harmony," he added. The chiefs and families are supporting it, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to eliminate it through enforcement alone.

Mr Hosi pointed out that the financial returns from galamsey have made the activity particularly attractive to young people, including those with little or no formal education. "A JHS school dropout goes into a pit and is making GH¢3,000 to GH¢10,000 a week," he said.

The Complexity of Gold Production

Ghana's dependence on gold makes the issue even more complex, noted Mr Hosi. Gold accounts for a significant proportion of the country's export earnings, with 63% of total exports dependent on it. More than half of this is ASM gold, which contributes significantly to gold production.

Mr Hosi argued that because artisanal and small-scale mining contributes significantly to gold production, policymakers must find ways to bring the sector under effective regulation rather than relying solely on attempts to eradicate it. He called for a more realistic policy approach that recognises galamsey's economic importance while addressing its environmental and social consequences.

A Shift in Policy Needed

Mr Hosi questioned whether many formally employed graduates could earn comparable incomes within Ghana's formal economy. "How many of the people in this office, in Multimedia Group Limited, make GH¢3,000 a week? Graduates, how many of them?" he asked.

He therefore called for a shift in policy from fighting galamsey to formalising and regulating the sector. "Our only path forward is fixing galamsey, not fighting and stopping galamsey. We can't," he stated. Mr Hosi argued that Ghana has moved beyond the point where simply fighting or attempting to completely stop galamsey can provide a sustainable solution.

The Way Forward

Mr Hosi's comments come as the country struggles to balance its economic needs with the environmental and social consequences of galamsey. The influence of galamsey extends beyond mining communities into Ghana's broader political and economic system, making it a complex issue that requires a nuanced approach.

The country's policymakers must now consider the socioeconomic reality of galamsey and find ways to bring the sector under effective regulation. This will require a more realistic policy approach that recognises galamsey's economic importance while addressing its environmental and social consequences. Only then can Ghana move forward and find a sustainable solution to the galamsey problem.

Source: JOY