ECONOMIST URGES PRISON REFORMS TO HELP FIGHT GALAMSEY

An economist, Dr. Worlanyo Mensah, has urged the government to introduce innovative reforms in Ghana’s prison system that would empower inmates to contribute meaningfully to the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr. Mensah said the country could tap into the skills and knowledge of prisoners through structured rehabilitation and training programmes that prepare them for productive national service.

He explained that many inmates possess valuable skills in information technology, environmental management, and technical trades, which could be channelled into land reclamation, reforestation, and digital monitoring of mining activities.

“When prisoners realise the state is committed to their training and welfare, they will not run away,” he said, adding that reformed inmates could be deployed to assist in restoring degraded lands and protecting water bodies.

Dr. Mensah emphasised that such reforms would not only support national environmental goals but also reduce reoffending rates, since inmates who acquire employable skills are less likely to return to crime after serving their sentences.

He further noted that illegal mining continues to pose serious environmental, economic, and social threats, including water pollution and the destruction of livelihoods. A multi-dimensional approach, he said, was therefore crucial to addressing the problem sustainably.