Former Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has raised alarm over Ghana’s leadership and the devastating effects of illegal mining (galamsey) on the country’s future.
In an interview on Keypoints on Saturday, November 30, 2024, he warned that the unchecked spread of galamsey is not only an environmental catastrophe but also a threat to Ghana’s socio-economic stability.
Frimpong-Boateng underscored the environmental destruction caused by galamsey, which he described as “daily earthquakes” in affected areas. Rivers, once vital for drinking water and irrigation, have become severely polluted, making them unusable. He highlighted the Ghana Water Company’s struggle to produce potable water as a clear example of the crisis. “The destruction of water bodies, farmlands, forests, and biodiversity is setting the stage for a catastrophic future, including widespread hunger and environmental collapse,” he lamented.
Drawing inspiration from global figures such as Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed his nation through science and technology, Frimpong-Boateng expressed disappointment that despite Ghana’s abundance of resources—such as cocoa, gold, and water—the country has failed to achieve similar progress. He attributed this to leadership failures, stating, “Leadership is supposed to ensure the survival of the people and meet basic needs.”
Frimpong-Boateng was particularly critical of past government efforts to curb galamsey, such as the military-led Operation Vanguard. He argued that these interventions had proven ineffective and warned that military involvement in such operations could undermine the integrity of the Ghana Armed Forces. “This is not a job for the military,” he said, calling for a more sustainable, long-term approach to addressing illegal mining.
Looking to the future, the former Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology urged the next government to make the fight against galamsey a top priority. He emphasized the urgency of adopting robust policies to safeguard the environment and secure a better future for the next generation. “If we don’t act now, we are guaranteeing a bleak future for the next generation,” he warned.
While Frimpong-Boateng remains cautiously optimistic about the possibility of positive change, he expressed his willingness to advise future leaders if they demonstrate a genuine commitment to tackling the galamsey crisis. However, he refrained from commenting on controversial projects like the National Cathedral, focusing instead on the need to prioritize environmental preservation and sustainable development.
As Ghana approaches the 2024 elections, the call for proactive leadership in addressing galamsey and environmental degradation remains more urgent than ever.
