The National Coalition on Mining has cautioned that relying on military and police operations to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will not yield lasting results.
The Coalition argues that without a strategic, community-driven, and regulatory approach, government efforts to eliminate the menace will continue to fall short.
Speaking on Sunday, October 19, Emmanuel Ellimah, a member of the Coalition, pointed out that years of military-led operations under successive governments have failed to stop illegal mining activities.
“Under President Kufuor, we had Operation Flashout. During President Mahama’s first term, there was Operation Cowleg. President Akufo-Addo’s administration launched Operation Vanguard, Halt One, and Halt Two. If military force alone could end galamsey, we wouldn’t still be here discussing it,” he said.
Ellimah stressed the need for a paradigm shift in the national response, urging authorities to focus on:
- Empowering local communities
- Strengthening regulation of small-scale mining
- Strict enforcement of environmental laws
“We need to move beyond brute force. Galamsey is deeply rooted in socio-economic issues, and addressing it requires inclusive, long-term solutions,” he added.
Government’s Current Response
Despite these concerns, the government has intensified its crackdown through the recently established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS)—a multi-agency task force launched to combat illegal mining more aggressively.
NAIMOS has reported making arrests since its formation, but the Coalition maintains that enforcement alone is insufficient without addressing the systemic drivers of illegal mining.
