Galamsey: Government’s progress claims not fully supported by figures – Prof Appiagyei-Tuah

An Associate Professor at the University of Ghana School of Law, Prof Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tuah, says that while some progress has been made in the fight against illegal mining, available data still point to an alarming situation.

He cautioned against relying on government figures that have not been adequately substantiated, arguing that claims of progress must be backed by credible evidence.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, October 31, Prof. Appiagyei-Tuah said there was information suggesting that the government had made some gains in tackling galamsey, but questioned whether the figures being cited accurately reflected the situation on the ground.

“Definitely some progress has been made, but there are some figures that have been thrown about without evidence,” he said.

He maintained that although the government could point to some interventions and achievements, other available figures showed that illegal mining remained a serious national concern.

The law lecturer’s comments come amid renewed debate over the effectiveness of government measures to combat galamsey, including arrests, equipment seizures, river protection operations and plans to reclaim degraded lands.

President John Dramani Mahama has reported the confiscation of more than 8,200 items linked to illegal mining, including 135 excavators and nearly 200 firearms. He has also announced plans to reclaim 5,000 acres of degraded land from 2027, backed by GH¢200 million.

Prof. Appiagyei-Tuah’s assessment adds to calls for greater transparency in reporting the results of the anti-galamsey campaign, with credible data needed to establish the extent of progress and the scale of the remaining environmental threat.