Dr Nana Sifa Twum, a Media and Communications Consultant, has urged African governments to adopt strategic communication as a core governance tool in tackling illegal mining, describing enforcement-only approaches as ineffective.
He proposed a four-pillar framework to strengthen anti-illegal mining efforts, anchored on transparency and message consistency, community-centred narratives, media accountability and sustained multi-stakeholder dialogue.
Dr Twum made the call while addressing participants at the 4th Global Media, Communication and Film Conference held in London on 20th February 2026, stressing that the model would help rebuild public trust, encourage behavioural change and promote community ownership of environmental governance.
“The persistence of illegal mining indicates a governance gap, which can only be bridged through inclusive and strategic public engagement,” he emphasised, noting that enforcement without credible, transparent and participatory communication weakened compliance.
The conference brought together academics, media practitioners, filmmakers and policy experts from various countries to examine the role of media and communication in addressing global challenges.
Discussions focused on Climate Change Communication, Digital Media Ethics, Media Literacy and the Role of Storytelling in Social Transformation.
Dr Twum was one of two African speakers at the conference, alongside Moroccan diplomat Karima Kartite.
Illegal mining in Ghana, locally known as “galamsey”, refers to small-scale gold mining conducted without legal permits and outside state regulation. It often occurs along river bodies, forest reserves and farmlands, using unapproved methods that disregard environmental standards.
The practice has resulted in extensive land degradation and pollution of major rivers with silt and toxic chemicals, including mercury.
The Government of Ghana has deployed a military-led taskforce to curb the menace.
Presenting research focused on Africa, with emphasis on Ghana, Dr Twum described illegal mining as a multifaceted socio-environmental governance challenge affecting ecosystems, public health and public trust in state institutions.
He said despite numerous government interventions across the continent, the practice persisted largely due to weaknesses in communication strategies, including inconsistent messaging, politicisation and limited community participation.
Dr Twum said effective environmental governance depended on building what he termed a shared public story that made citizens active participants rather than targets of policy directives.
“Ultimately, governance succeeds when citizens believe, own and act on the message,” he noted.
He explained that Africa’s public communication environments were shaped by community authority structures, religious and cultural systems, interpersonal influence and growing social media mobilisation.
“Traditional leaders, local radio stations and community opinion leaders often possess credibility that may surpass that of state institutions,” he said, stressing the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive communication approaches.
Dr Twum said public perception and compliance were influenced by government messaging, media framing and the extent of community engagement.
He urged governments to publish clear policy goals and provide regular updates to enhance transparency and credibility, while adopting culturally relevant storytelling to engage local communities and highlight grassroots environmental protection efforts.
On the media’s role, he encouraged investigative journalism and ethical reporting, urging journalists to avoid demonising miners and instead focus on the structural and systemic drivers of illegal mining.
For sustainable impact, Dr Twum called for continuous dialogue platforms involving government agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and affected communities.
He said dominant narratives surrounding illegal mining, including survival stories driven by economic hardship and perceptions of state hypocrisy, significantly shaped public attitudes and must be addressed through deliberate communication strategies.
“By framing illegal mining as both an environmental and governance issue, we need to shift the narrative from mere regulation to a comprehensive strategic communication model that facilitates behaviour change and strengthens community ownership,” he said.
Dr Twum urged African countries confronting illegal mining and other illicit socio-economic activities to engage professional communicators to develop holistic strategies capable of restoring trust and achieving sustainable environmental governance.
