The Centre convened a national security dialogue to examine the growing risks posed by illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, and its implications for Ghana’s long-term stability and development.
Held under the theme “Galamsey as an Existential Threat to Ghana: A Call for Reflection and Action,” the dialogue formed part of KAIPTC’s Reflections on Security Series. It brought together policymakers, security agencies, environmental regulators, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, media practitioners, and other stakeholders to assess the scale of the challenge and identify practical, coordinated responses.
Opening the dialogue, the Acting Commandant of KAIPTC, Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, described galamsey as a national crisis with far-reaching environmental, economic, governance, and public health consequences. He noted that illegal mining has led to the degradation of forests, pollution of major rivers, and destruction of arable land, undermining water security, food production, and livelihoods across affected communities.
Beyond environmental damage, Air Commodore Akrong highlighted the growing security dimensions of illegal mining, including organised criminal networks, corruption, and social tensions. He warned that these dynamics, if left unaddressed, risk eroding state authority and threatening national stability. While acknowledging ongoing government interventions—such as Operation Vanguard, Operation Halt, the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), and livelihood-based initiatives like the Responsible Community Mining Scheme—he pointed to persistent gaps between policy commitments and outcomes, underscoring the need for stronger collaboration, accountability, and sustained political will.
Discussions explored the complex and interlinked drivers of illegal mining, including weak enforcement systems, corruption, limited economic alternatives in mining communities, and transnational supply chains that facilitate access to equipment and the trade in illicit gold. Participants emphasised that addressing galamsey requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond enforcement to tackle underlying socio-economic and governance challenges.
Among the long-term recommendations proposed was the development of a comprehensive geological survey database to guide regulated mining and reduce destructive practices such as alluvial and “blind” mining along rivers and within forest reserves. Participants also highlighted the importance of strengthening logistical support for enforcement agencies, disrupting illicit supply networks, enhancing community accountability mechanisms, and improving political oversight.
Some participants called for greater transparency measures, including a potential public “name-and-shame” system to expose actors enabling illegal mining, alongside sustained public sensitisation to reinforce the message that eliminating galamsey requires long-term national commitment rather than short-term campaigns.
The dialogue is expected to inform a policy-oriented report that will contribute to ongoing national discussions and practical efforts aimed at addressing illegal mining and its associated security risks in Ghana. The dialogue featured a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Victor Doke, Research Fellow at KAIPTC. Panelists included representatives from NAIMOS, the Ghana Police Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, and the media.