Koforidua: A two-day high-level national dialogue led by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has opened on Tuesday in Koforidua to build citizen consensus and end political paralysis over illegal mining in Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the stakeholder dialogue, aimed at resolving Ghana's longstanding illegal mining crisis, popularly known as galamsey, is being held at the Eastern Premier Hotel from October 28 to 29. The meeting, spearheaded by MFWA, is in collaboration with the National Peace Council, National Commission for Civic Education, National House of Chiefs, the Christian Council of Ghana, Office of the National Chief Imam, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection Agency.
The initiative seeks to break the policy paralysis caused by entrenched political polarization, which has stalled efforts over the years to combat galamsey despite existing laws and enforcement mechanisms. 'This dialogue is a strategic intervention to confront the root causes of inaction on galamsey,' Mr. Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of MFWA, said in a concept note shared with the Ghana News Agency (GNA). 'We are bringing together the full spectrum of Ghanaian society to find common ground and act decisively,' the note said.
Participants include political parties, state institutions, traditional and religious leaders, artisanal and small-scale mining associations, civil society organizations, youth and women's groups, academia, the media, and development partners. Dr. Kojo Impraim, a lead coordinator of the dialogue, noted that expert papers commissioned for the event will examine the impact of galamsey on the environment, forest reserves, water access, agriculture, public health, and peace and security. 'These papers will guide structured discussions and help identify practical, consensus-driven solutions,' he said.
In a speech delivered by Mr. Elikem Kotoko, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, it was stated that the issue of galamsey has transcended environmental destruction and now poses serious health risks and a major threat to national survival. He cited a recent press briefing by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), which revealed that water sources were too polluted to treat, with turbidity levels reaching an alarming 12,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), far exceeding the maximum treatment threshold of 500 NTU.
He attributed the persistence of the menace to corruption among political officials and law enforcement agencies, which has undermined efforts to combat illegal mining. He also highlighted limited public awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with galamsey, weak enforcement of mining regulations, unemployment, poverty, and the high global demand for gold as key drivers of the crisis.
To address the situation, the government has revoked 278 small-scale mining licenses found to be fraught with irregularities. Additionally, comprehensive legal and policy reforms are underway, including major amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and a review of the Minerals and Mining Policy (2014). All these aim to strengthen local content and introduce a medium-scale licensing regime. Mr. Kotoko emphasized that these efforts were essential to restoring Ghana's land and water bodies to their pristine state.
At the event, he officially launched the Research Report for the High-Level Stakeholders Dialogue on Solutions to the Galamsey Crisis in Ghana: Mobilizing Citizens Consensus. The report serves both as a research contribution and a call for policy renewal. A post-dialogue media campaign will follow, spotlight key outcomes, tracking stakeholder commitments, and promoting accountability. An outcome document and a lessons-learned report will also be produced to inform future interventions and ensure sustained momentum in addressing the crisis.
