Criminologist: Government lacks readiness and political will to fight galamsey

Despite Ghana’s Constitution granting the President full authority over the country’s mineral resources, a criminologist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Jones Opoku-Ware, says the government’s actions show it is not ready to tackle the illegal mining menace head-on.

He argues that the persistence and growing sophistication of galamsey operations reflect a widening gap between constitutional responsibility and political commitment.

Under Article 257(6) of the 1992 Constitution, all minerals in their natural state, whether found in soil, rivers, or public land, belong to the Republic of Ghana and are vested in the President to hold in trust for the people. Yet, according to Dr. Opoku-Ware, the failure to confront illegal mining with decisive force exposes weaknesses at the highest levels of leadership.

“These are not ordinary people. They are heavily armed, well organized, and backed by powerful sponsors, some within the political system itself,” he told Luv FM. “When security agencies flee, it signals that the state is powerless. The moment the state retreats, it tells these groups they are stronger than Ghana.”

Illegal mining as a cartel network

Dr. Opoku-Ware described the operations of illegal miners as “mafia-style cartels”, sophisticated networks mobilizing around common interests and using intimidation against communities and law enforcement. He said political protection and interference have created uncertainty among security personnel, leaving enforcement efforts weak and inconsistent.

He cited instances where joint operations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the military were forced to withdraw when confronted by armed miners.

“In one recent operation, the EPA team was meant to close shops supplying galamsey operators. Intelligence was provided, but the team was not fully prepared for the terrain or the level of resistance. They had to retreat, sending a very bad signal across the country about the state’s weakness,” he recounted.

Weapons and weak enforcement

The criminologist warned that the widespread use of firearms among illegal miners poses a grave national security threat. Citing estimates by the Small Arms Commission, he said millions of unregistered weapons are in circulation, many used to protect mining sites or intimidate officers.

“Almost every illegal miner arrested has a weapon. Some even display guns at funerals to show power. If we don’t stop them now, these same guns will soon be turned on us,” he cautioned.

He criticized the practice of deploying unarmed EPA officials, who are not trained for combat—to confront armed miners, describing it as a sign of poor planning and a lack of seriousness in the government’s anti-galamsey strategy.

Political interference and institutional failure

Dr. Opoku-Ware further argued that the involvement of political and business elites in illegal mining operations makes the problem more complex. He noted that intelligence leaks, protection rackets, and internal sabotage have rendered enforcement efforts largely ineffective.

“The government must stop playing lip service. If we don’t act within the next few years, these networks could grow powerful enough to challenge the authority of the state itself,” he warned.

Analysts share his view, noting that the President, who constitutionally holds Ghana’s mineral resources in trust for the people, bears both the legal and moral duty to protect them. Yet, the continued growth of galamsey operations, they argue, reflects a troubling disconnect between constitutional power and political will.

Until the government strengthens its institutions, insulates enforcement from political interference, and prosecutes offenders regardless of their status, Ghana’s illegal mining crisis will persist.

“The minerals belong to the people,” Dr. Opoku-Ware emphasized. “The state has the power to protect them, but so far, it has refused to use it.”