Retired military officer and security analyst Colonel Festus Aboagye has emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive, multi-agency approach to address the growing issue of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in Ghana. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on July 18th, Col. Aboagye underscored that relying solely on the military is insufficient to resolve this complex challenge.
According to Col. Aboagye, a successful crackdown on galamsey requires coordinated involvement from several security and regulatory institutions. “We need now to get the Armed Forces and get the Police, Immigration, Prisons, Customs, FDA, and get all these experts together, and then they will map up,” he said, highlighting the importance of collaborative planning. He cautioned against immediate military deployment without integrating other key agencies.
He further pointed out that because many individuals engaged in illegal mining activities are foreign nationals, the Ghana Immigration Service must play an active role in monitoring and managing cross-border participation. This highlights the transnational dimension of the galamsey problem that requires border security cooperation.
The financial aspects of illegal mining also demand attention, prompting Col. Aboagye to call on the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to monitor and regulate monetary transactions linked to galamsey activities. Additionally, he raised concerns about the reported use of narcotics among illegal miners, advocating for the inclusion of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Narcotics Control Commission to address substance abuse risks related to galamsey operations.
Given that many galamsey operators are reportedly armed, Col. Aboagye stressed the importance of empowering the Small Arms Commission to curb the influx and misuse of weapons within mining communities. He concluded by urging robust political backing to avoid superficial efforts, emphasizing that “full political support, not the type of operation we see where there is a whitewash,” is critical for meaningful intervention.
For further details, refer to the original report on MyJoyOnline.
