Former Lands Minister Warns Politicians to Steer Clear of Anti-Galamsey Operations

Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, has issued a strong warning to political leaders to refrain from meddling in the work of anti-illegal mining task forces, cautioning that such interference undermines Ghana’s national efforts to curb the destructive practice of “galamsey.”

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, on the sidelines of an Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) seminar in Accra, the former Tamale Central MP said reports of alleged obstruction of an anti-mining operation in the Ahafo Region by a sitting legislator represent a serious threat to the rule of law and environmental governance.

His comments come after reports surfaced that the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, allegedly incited a group of youth in Bronikrom to attack a police station, following the arrest of suspected illegal miners by officers of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). The disturbance reportedly led to the release of detained suspects — an incident that has sparked widespread concern across civil society and academia.

“This is totally unacceptable,” Mr. Fuseini said. “For the first time, we are hearing that a Member of Parliament is directly interfering in the work of an anti-illegal mining task force. That should not be the route we are taking as a country.”

Illegal small-scale mining, or galamsey, continues to be one of Ghana’s most persistent and environmentally devastating challenges. Despite numerous government initiatives — including Operation Vanguard and NAIMOS — illegal miners have continued to operate in forest reserves and along major river bodies such as the Pra, Offin, and Ankobra.

Environmental experts warn that Ghana loses hundreds of hectares of arable land annually to illegal mining, while the Ghana Water Company has repeatedly raised concerns over the cost of treating contaminated water. In 2024, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources reported that over 50% of Ghana’s surface water sources were polluted, with galamsey being a major contributor.

Fuseini’s warning underscores the broader governance problem: when political interference disrupts law enforcement, it not only weakens environmental protection but also erodes public trust in democratic institutions.

Mr. Fuseini, who served as Lands Minister under the John Mahama administration, stressed that public officials — including Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives — must lead by example in upholding the law.

“The Member of Parliament should know that illegality and impunity cannot be condoned in this country,” he said firmly.

He called for a nonpartisan approach to the galamsey fight, emphasizing that all political parties and state actors must prioritize national interest over partisan loyalties. “Protecting the environment should not be a political choice; it is a national duty,” he added.

Fuseini also encouraged state institutions to apply the law uniformly, noting that selective justice only emboldens offenders and discourages honest enforcement officers.

Tackling the Financiers and Enablers of Galamsey

Beyond political interference, the former minister highlighted another critical weakness in Ghana’s anti-galamsey strategy: failure to pursue the financiers and middlemen who sustain illegal mining operations.

“The fight against galamsey has mainly targeted those on the ground, and they ought to be targeted,” he said. “But it must extend beyond them. There are enablers — people who sit in their offices or homes, buying excavators, funding operations, and profiting from environmental destruction.”

Experts have long argued that the illegal mining chain extends from financiers and equipment suppliers to the local operators who dig and process ore. Addressing only one end of the chain, Mr. Fuseini warned, allows the illicit trade to regenerate and persist.

A 2023 report by the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis estimated that the illegal gold economy in Ghana generates over $2 billion annually, much of which is controlled by unregistered financiers and politically connected individuals. Without disrupting this financial web, efforts to curb galamsey are likely to remain superficial.

The consequences of illegal mining stretch far beyond environmental degradation. Polluted rivers have forced some communities in the Western, Ashanti, and Eastern regions to depend on boreholes or imported water for daily use. Farmlands once suitable for cocoa and food crop cultivation have become wastelands filled with open pits.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has warned that galamsey threatens the country’s cocoa industry — a key foreign exchange earner — as miners encroach on productive cocoa farms. Analysts say Ghana could lose significant revenue if the trend continues unchecked.

Fuseini’s comments therefore come at a critical time, as the government faces renewed calls from academia, civil society, and traditional leaders for stronger enforcement and depoliticization of the anti-galamsey fight.

The former minister urged law enforcement agencies, traditional authorities, and local governments to collaborate transparently in the anti-mining campaign. He also appealed for more community engagement and public education to change the perception of galamsey as a “survival strategy” rather than a criminal act.

“Fighting galamsey is not just about arrests,” he said. “It’s about changing attitudes, strengthening institutions, and cutting off the illegal networks that profit from the destruction of our environment.”

Fuseini’s remarks reinforce growing demands for accountability and political neutrality in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining — a challenge that remains central to the country’s sustainable development agenda.

The former minister’s comments highlight a critical truth: Ghana’s battle against galamsey will succeed only when enforcement is shielded from political manipulation and when the economic forces behind the practice are dismantled. The fight is not simply about miners in the pits — it is about governance, responsibility, and the future of Ghana’s environment.

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