Illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey, has ravaged the landscape, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
The UK government has sounded the alarm, revealing that Ghana loses a staggering US$2 billion annually to galamsey and gold smuggling.
This staggering figure is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s economy.
For years, galamsey has plagued Ghana, defying attempts to curb its spread.
The consequences are dire: deforestation, water pollution, displacement of communities, and economic losses that threaten the nation’s very fabric.
In 2022, the UK and Ghana launched a joint initiative, the £3.9 million UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme, aimed at combating galamsey.
Yet, despite these efforts, the practice persists, with approximately 60 tonnes of gold smuggled out of Ghana in 2022 alone.
Chris Aston, team lead for the UK Ghana Gold Programme, warns, “Ghana is vulnerable to organized crime groups exploiting the sector. We must disrupt illegal mining and illicit financial inflows.”
