Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has called for decisive political will to tackle illegal mining in the country.
He warned that failure to act against influential actors behind the practice threatened future generations and undermined sustainable resource governance.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Ghana in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Agyeman-Budu said although the scale and actors behind illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey, were widely known, the lack of sustained action against influential persons remained a major setback.
“If we know who these people are… the right thing should be done. We should go after these people in a way that will be sustainable,” he said.
The seminar, on the theme: “Illegal Mining, Human Rights, and Community Protection in Ghana,” brought together policymakers, civil society actors and governance experts to discuss long-term solutions to the menace.
Dr Agyeman-Budu, in his presentation, identified governance, enforcement and policy “deficits” as key drivers of the persistence of illegal mining, stressing the need for a holistic response that addresses the gaps simultaneously.
He urged the authorities to move beyond periodic crackdowns to sustained governance reforms, including aligning institutions, strengthening enforcement, and adopting community-specific solutions.
“We must move from episodic responses to long-term, durable protection duties,” he said, adding that illegal mining should be treated as a human rights and public health issue, not merely a sectoral offence.
The Dean called for stronger action against financiers and facilitators of illegal mining rather than focusing only on low-level operators, as well as reforms in the licensing regime to ensure transparency and accountability.
Mrs Mercy Larbi, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said the impact of illegal mining extended beyond environmental degradation to serious human rights concerns, including threats to life, dignity and community security.
She noted that some security responses had resulted in excessive force and loss of lives, raising concerns about the protection of fundamental rights.
“These are not merely environmental concerns. They are violations of rights tied to dignity, heritage and belonging,” she said.
Mr Derrick Schandorf Ayirebi-Acquah, Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, urged stakeholders to depoliticise the fight against illegal mining, describing it as a national crisis.
“We have a very serious issue at hand… we should not politicise it. If we can all come around the table and discuss it dispassionately, we will make a lot of progress,” he noted.
Ms Anna Lena Sabroso-Wasserfall, Country Representative of KAS Ghana, said illegal mining had evolved into a complex challenge at the intersection of governance, security, livelihoods and human rights.
Recent studies showed citizens ranked galamsey among the most urgent national issues, reflecting concerns about accountability and state capacity, she said.
Illegal mining has, over the years, caused extensive damage to Ghana’s forests and water bodies, with pollution of major rivers and loss of farmlands, while efforts by successive governments to curb the practice have yielded limited success.
Participants at the seminar agreed that addressing the menace required sustained political commitment, stronger institutions and inclusive policies that balance enforcement with community protection and alternative livelihoods.