Professor Eric Kwabena Kyeh Abavare, President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has criticised the Mahama administration’s handling of illegal mining, calling for tougher enforcement measures to protect Ghana’s rivers, forest reserves and public health.
In a policy critique titled “The Theatre of Ecocide and the Crisis of Conscience,” Prof. Abavare argues that the government’s anti-galamsey commitments have not translated into sufficient action on the ground. He also accuses the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of exploiting the environmental crisis for political advantage rather than contributing adequately to sustainable solutions.
He maintains that the fight against illegal mining requires decisive leadership, consistent enforcement of environmental laws and accountability for individuals who finance or facilitate destructive mining activities, regardless of their political affiliations.
Prof. Abavare recalls President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge, while in opposition, to use artificial intelligence (AI) to combat galamsey if elected president.
However, he argues that the administration’s performance has fallen short of the expectations created by its promises, alleging that public announcements, press briefings and committee meetings have not delivered sufficient progress in tackling the menace.
He also revisits the political debate surrounding galamsey under the previous NPP administration, criticising the use of press conferences featuring samples of polluted water and appeals to international institutions to draw attention to Ghana’s environmental challenges.
Although some political figures, including Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Sam Nartey George, advocated stronger interventions such as declaring a state of emergency, Prof. Abavare contends that political rhetoric should have been matched by sustained collaboration to improve enforcement and invest in water treatment infrastructure.
He cites the interventions of Sammy Gyamfi and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as part of what he describes as a broader pattern of political spectacle that has overshadowed practical efforts to address the crisis.
According to him, the NDC and NPP must move beyond exchanging accusations over responsibility for polluted rivers and concentrate on implementing lasting solutions.
The UTAG-KNUST president has also questioned the effectiveness of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission in supervising mining activities and protecting environmentally sensitive areas.
He alleges that destructive mining continues despite official assurances about enforcement and sustainability, arguing that operations by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards must be sustained rather than reduced to intermittent interventions.
A major concern raised in the essay is the alleged continuation of large-scale mining activities at night.
Prof. Abavare claims that excavators, changfan equipment and gold-washing installations continue to operate after dark, sometimes with the protection of armed private security personnel and the alleged backing of politically connected individuals.
He argues that enforcement must extend beyond visible raids on individual miners to include investigations into the financiers and operators behind destructive mining activities.
He also refers to assurances allegedly made to miners during the 2024 election campaign, suggesting that political considerations may have contributed to expectations that mining activities would continue under the new administration.
Invoking the “No Contribution, No Chop” slogan associated with former NDC National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Prof. Abavare questions whether political patronage has undermined accountability in the fight against galamsey.
He calls for impartial enforcement against all offenders, irrespective of their political connections.
Beyond environmental destruction, Prof. Abavare warns that pollution associated with illegal mining poses potential risks to public health.
He raises concerns about the contamination of water sources and food chains by hazardous substances, including mercury, lead, arsenic and cyanide, associated with certain mining operations.
He specifically references dialysis facilities at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, arguing that the country’s kidney-care challenges should prompt greater attention to environmental risks.
He further cautions that contaminated water, vegetables, root crops and freshwater fish could expose communities to harmful substances.
Using commonly consumed foods such as kontomire and yam as examples, he urges Ghanaians to pay closer attention to the sources of their food and the potential consequences of mining-related pollution.
The professor also raises concerns about possible reproductive health complications and congenital abnormalities. However, establishing direct links between galamsey-related pollution and specific medical conditions requires scientific research, environmental testing and clinical evidence.
His central argument is that environmental protection must be treated as a public health priority, alongside efforts to regulate the mining industry.
Prof. Abavare has strongly criticised the proposed regularisation of illegal mining activities, arguing that granting permits or certificates cannot, on its own, make mining environmentally responsible.
He refers to a statement issued by the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) on October 23 and remarks attributed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) at a meeting in Kumasi on March 23 concerning the regularisation of illegal mining.
According to him, the positions advanced in those engagements risk placing too much emphasis on formalising mining operations without adequately addressing their environmental impact.
“A piece of paper does not change the laws of chemistry,” he writes, arguing that licences cannot prevent pollution if operators continue to divert river channels, destroy riverbanks or use hazardous chemicals without proper safeguards.
He maintains that formalisation must be backed by rigorous inspections, enforceable environmental standards and meaningful sanctions for violations.
For Prof. Abavare, the economic benefits of small-scale mining must be weighed against the potential costs to water security, ecosystems and public health. He insists that legal authorisation should not shield operators from accountability for environmental damage.
The professor argues that both major political parties have contributed to a political environment in which galamsey is frequently discussed through the lens of partisan competition.
While the NDC points to the environmental record of its predecessor, he says the NPP has used the ongoing crisis to criticise the government without sufficiently moving the debate towards practical remediation.
He contends that neither party should allow electoral considerations or the political influence of mining communities to weaken enforcement.
Instead, he wants the parties to support a national strategy focused on protecting water bodies and forest reserves, irrespective of which administration introduced the relevant policies.
To address the crisis, Prof. Abavare has outlined four key interventions he believes the government should adopt.
First, he calls for an immediate and unconditional ban on mining within 200 metres of water bodies.
Second, he advocates the permanent confiscation and public crushing of excavators used in destructive mining operations, particularly those allegedly operating at night, subject to applicable legal procedures.
Third, he wants the prosecution of individuals who finance or facilitate illegal mining, including politically connected figures, where evidence establishes criminal wrongdoing.
Finally, he urges the government to end approaches to regularisation that are not backed by strict environmental compliance and effective monitoring.
He argues that these measures would demonstrate a stronger commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources and restoring public confidence in the anti-galamsey campaign.
Prof. Abavare concludes that Ghana cannot overcome illegal mining through public declarations, political exchanges or administrative approvals alone.
He argues that the success of the Mahama administration’s anti-galamsey campaign should be assessed by measurable improvements in environmental protection, the enforcement of mining laws and accountability for those responsible for illegal operations.
He also challenges the NPP to contribute credible solutions rather than focus primarily on criticising the government.
For the professor, the galamsey crisis remains a national governance challenge that requires cooperation among state institutions, political parties, traditional authorities, mining associations and affected communities.
He insists that the formalisation of small-scale mining must not become a substitute for enforcement, stressing that Ghana’s mineral wealth should be managed in a manner that safeguards its rivers, forests and the wellbeing of future generations.
By 1960news.com
