Accra: The State has failed to stop illegal mining, known as Galamsey, not due to a lack of laws, institutions, or regulatory capacity, but because of State Capture. This assertion was made by Professor Jasper Abembia Ayelazuno, co-author of a recently launched book titled 'State Capture in the Militarized Fight Against Illegal Small-Scale Goldmining in Ghana'.
According to Ghana News Agency, the book, co-authored with Dr. Maxwell Akansina Aziabah and launched by Third World Network Africa in Accra, seeks to provide a fresh state-theoretical perspective on state capture to unravel the complexities of illegal mining. The authors argue that the chaotic and destructive nature of Ghana's Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector, often referred to as the galamsey menace, is a direct result of state capture.
Prof Ayelazuno explained that the state has been captured by mining power-elites, enabling them to conduct criminal and destructive mining activities with impunity. He noted that despite former President Nana Akufo-Addo's public commitment to fighting the menace, the state has been unable to curb the illegal mining activities effectively.
In an effort to combat galamsey, the government launched high-profile security interventions, deploying hundreds of military personnel to mining areas and allocating significant public resources, including an estimated over GH30 million. However, despite these efforts, illegal mining continues to devastate the environment and the lives of rural communities.
The book highlights the failure of the militarized approach to tackling the galamsey issue, emphasizing that Ghana's ASGM sector is plagued by informality, criminality, and severe environmental and human-development impacts. The authors argue that state captors engage in capitalist mechanized mining rather than artisanal and small-scale mining, causing large-scale environmental destruction.
Prof Ayelazuno emphasized the need for a shift from past militarized efforts to more community-led governance and legal reforms. He stressed the importance of dismantling capture networks, restoring institutional autonomy and integrity, and protecting civic activists, journalists, and whistleblowers.
The book reviewer, Prof. Abdulai Abdul Gafaru, described the work as a bold analytical attempt to address the crisis of illegal small-scale mining through the lens of state capture. The authors call for bold, peaceful leadership to dismantle the power structures supporting illegal mining and prevent further degradation of Ghana's democratic institutions.
