Combating galamsey and climate change: enhancing food security and sustainable national development

By Samuel SAM

Addressing the economy of a country in enhancing food security and promoting sustainable national development relies on the strategies and policies developed to combat the menace affecting livelihoods, welfare, job creation, quality education and healthcare.

This means empowering law enforcement agencies with modern equipment and technology can curb galamsey operations, while ensuring collaboration between local authorities, communities and environmental groups also goes a long way to help monitor and report illegal activities that continue to have detrimental effects on Ghana’s environment – particularly water-bodies, soil quality and biodiversity.

What often induces illegal activities is communities turning to galamsey because of limited economic opportunities; but with Ghana’s agriculture being highly sensitive to climate variability, climate action and curbing illegal mining is essential for food security

It is said that Ghana’s struggle against ‘galamsey’ has escalated into a national crisis, threatening the environment, public health and economic stability.

Despite efforts by successive governments, the pervasive nature of galamsey is exacerbated by involvement from foreign nationals, particularly Chinese – which has led to severe water-bodies pollution and destruction of agricultural land.

Research indeed shows that illegal mining, or galamsey, has had severe impacts on Ghana’s agriculture, particularly affecting cocoa, timber, rubber, agriculture and water production; a vital part of the country’s economy and  significant to global exports. Destruction of an estimated 100,000 acres of farms due to galamsey operations underscores the gravity of this crisis.

It also undermines Ghana’s position as the world’s second-largest farm produce exporter. This not only disrupts the livelihoods of farmers but also threatens national revenue generated from farm produce exports, with potential ripple-effects on food security and economic stability.

Additionally, the country loses approximately US$2billion annually from cocoa farms affected by illegal mining. This loss stems from the pollution of farmlands and water-bodies, which makes cultivation difficult and reduces the market value of Ghanaian agricultural products. Farmers are often displaced from their lands or coerced into abandoning them, leading to further food insecurity and economic instability in rural areas.

Beyond the economic loss, galamsey also introduces harmful chemicals such as mercury and cyanide into the soil and water systems, further damaging crops and reducing land fertility – worsening the situation for farmers’ dependent on these lands.The chemicals used in these operations such as mercury and cyanide contaminate soils, significantly reducing crop yields by up to 30% in affected regions.

Also, water resources have also been gravely affected and over  60% of Ghana’s water-bodies are said to be polluted – with rivers like the Pra, Ankobra and Birim heavily contaminated according both media and research reports.

This has led to a 75% reduction in clean water supply for regions such as Cape Coast, Western Region and some parts of Ashanti Region among others, as reported by the Ghana Water Company (GWCL). The contamination of these water-bodies not only affects drinking water but also the health of aquatic life and irrigation systems vital for agriculture, according to a Wateraid report.

In September 2024, Wateraid – non-government organisation – called for immediate action to end the ecocide caused by illegal mining following reports that GWCL had been forced to reduce its clean water supply by 75%, impacting hundreds of thousands of residents across the country’s southern coast.

The environmental issues, according to Daily Graphic reporter Mohammed Fugu in a research report, pose a grave challenges to Ghana’s agricultural economy and public health…. underscoring the need for more robust enforcement and sustainable practices.

Current Situation

Most of Ghana’s farming communities that used to help with crop production to enhance food security and economic growth have been destroyed, leaving the farmers to their fate; meanwhile, the water-bodies that used to produce potable water for both domestic and commercial purposes have been destroyed by illegal activities – thereby making it difficult for farmers to cultivate and feed the nation.

Famine is therefore anticipated to occur by 2030 if drastic measures are not put in place, and Ghana will likely have to import water if the water-bodies continue to be destroyed.

Stakeholders, including traditional leaders and civil society organisations, have urged government to impose stricter regulations and enforce existing laws more effectively. The University Teachers Association of Ghana even threatened a nationwide strike if a total ban on illegal mining was not implemented by end-September 2024.

Hope for Change

The involvement of various societal sectors, including traditional authorities, could enhance local enforcement and accountability in combatting galamsey.

Ultimately, addressing this issue requires a unified national effort that transcends political affiliations, focusing on sustainable solutions for both environmental protection and the livelihoods of those dependent on mining.

Media campaigns in reducing galamsey activities

Media campaigns against illegal mining and destruction of the environment in Ghana have had some impact, but the problem persists due to complex socioeconomic factors and lack of sufficient political will to stop destruction of the environment and water-bodies.

The media, especially outlets like Channelone Radio/TV with their #StopGalamseyNow campaign, have been successful in thrusting this issue into the national spotlight and galvanising public support for action.

The Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Daily Graphic, B&FT and other media outlets have also helped coordinate efforts across media houses to raise awareness on the devastating environmental and health impacts of galamsey – while Multimedia, Media General and the rest campaigning against illegal mining in the country have contributed to curbing the practice.

However, the media have also exposed instances when political interests undermined enforcement efforts, with some officials shielding galamsey operators from facing the law.

Contribution of civil society organisations

World Vision Ghana has been instrumental in efforts to restore degraded forests and lands across various regions of Ghana through projects like the European Union Landscape and Environmental Agility across the Nation (EU LEAN) – a four-year initiative aimed at conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded lands and building resilience against climate change in Ghana.

With that initiative and the Northern Ghana Restoration Initiative, World Vision has worked to combat impacts of deforestation and land degradation caused by various factors – including unsustainable farming practices and climate change.

The organiation has promoted Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) – an approach that allows for natural tree re-growth – and has successfully restored many hectares of land. In collaboration with local communities, World Vision has rehabilitated over 400 hectares of degraded land in regions such as West Gonja and Kassena-Nankana West, while also introducing sustainable agricultural practices.

These interventions have not only improved the land’s ecological health but also enhanced agricultural productivity and created economic opportunities for local populations, particularly women, through initiatives like bee-keeping and protecting valuable economic trees such as Shea and dawadawa?.

Additionally, the Re-greening Africa Project, led by World Vision Ghana, has restored over 123,086 hectares of degraded land and planted over 200,000 trees. This initiative has helped over 38,000 households adopt sustainable land restoration practices, which have improved food security and increased vegetation cover in affected regions.

The efforts have been crucial in reducing adverse impacts from deforestation and land degradation, contributing to the fight against climate change and ensuring more sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable communities in Ghana.

Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA) has been actively involved in addressing environmental degradation through initiatives that target climate resilience and reforestation in Northern Ghana. The organisation, originally focused on women’s empowerment, now leads efforts to restore degraded forests and promote sustainable environmental practices.

One of their key contributions is promoting sustainable tree-planting techniques – such as ‘eyebrow’ and ‘micro trench’ methods – which help conserve water for forest restoration. SWIDA also focuses on educating communities about climate resilience and empowering women and youth to engage in tree-planting and reforestation projects. Additionally, the organisation has partnered with the Forestry Commission to support forest restoration and tree management initiatives

Challenges

It is said that the galamsey provides quick income for many impoverished communities with limited economic alternatives, making it difficult to curb.

Lack of sustained political will, corruption and the involvement of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese, have hampered efforts to effectively regulate small-scale mining.

How have government responses to the media campaigns influenced galamsey activities?

Government responses to media campaigns have had a significant influence on galamsey (illegal small-scale gold mining) activities, particularly in Ghana where the issue has been widespread.

Media campaigns have played a crucial role in raising public awareness and pressuring government to act on the environmental destruction and social problems caused by galamsey.

Several individuals and corporate organisations in Ghana have taken a stand against galamsey (small-scale illegal mining) due to its environmental and socio-economic impacts. Their efforts include advocacy, legal actions and initiatives aimed at curbing the menace. Below are some notable entities’ and individuals’ efforts.

Research by Samuel Asuamah Yeboah indicated that illegal mining operations often evade taxes, royalties and other regulatory fees, resulting in substantial revenue losses for  government. This hampers government’s ability to fund development projects and provide essential services.

The Way Forward

Depoliticising the issue and fostering cooperation across political parties is crucial for crafting long-term solutions.

Providing alternative livelihoods through skills training, small-scale farming support and youth empowerment programmes can help wean communities off galamsey.

Strengthening environmental laws, empowering traditional authorities and involving security forces in a coordinated manner is also necessary.

While media campaigns have raised awareness and pressured government to act, more comprehensive and sustained efforts are needed to effectively combat the complex challenge of galamsey in Ghana.

A multi-stakeholder approach that addresses both enforcement and socioeconomic factors is essential for making meaningful progress.

Stringent measures by government in collaboration with the citizens and civil society organisations can help restore the degraded forests and farmlands.

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