Convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has called for a broader economic approach to Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, arguing that enforcement alone cannot end the country’s galamsey crisis.
Mr Hosi said the continued reliance of many mining communities on artisanal and small-scale mining for their livelihoods makes it difficult for government to permanently stop the practice without providing viable economic alternatives.
In an article examining Ghana’s illegal mining crisis, he argued that people with limited formal education can sometimes earn considerably more from illegal mining than they could from available formal employment.
“Where formal jobs are scarce, NAIMOS raids cannot outcompete galamsey earnings,” he wrote.
According to Senyo Hosi, some young people can reportedly earn between GH¢2,000 and GH¢10,000 a week through galamsey, creating a strong financial incentive for them to remain in the sector.
He said the economic benefits generated by illegal mining also influence how some communities respond to enforcement operations.
Mr Hosi noted that communities may protect miners because the activity supports households, businesses and other local economic activities.
“The silence is not consent. It is evidence of how tightly galamsey is bound to people’s survival in these communities,” he stated.
He referenced comments attributed to Germany’s Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshöft, who has estimated that about one million people are engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining.
Mr Hosi said the figure underscores the need for the galamsey debate to consider the employment needs of young people, household incomes and the economic interests of mining communities.
While acknowledging that enforcement remains necessary, he warned that it would have limited impact if illegal mining continues to offer significantly higher immediate returns than lawful employment.
