…as Pressure Mounts on Mining Front
By Prince Ahenkorah
President John Dramani Mahama has escalated his administration’s campaign against illegal mining known locally as galamsey with the donation of 24 Land Cruiser Troopers and 250 motorbikes to a multi-agency task force.
The move, announced on 8 October, is the latest in a series of logistical interventions aimed at curbing environmental degradation and restoring state control over Ghana’s mineral-rich territories.
The vehicles will be deployed across five key institutions: the Forestry Commission, Minerals Commission, Water Resources Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority. Acting EPA Chief Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse described the donation as “additional logistics to strengthen the fight,” underscoring the administration’s intent to translate rhetoric into field-ready capacity.
But critics remain wary. Previous anti-galamsey efforts have faltered due to poor coordination, corruption, and political interference. Whether this latest round of equipment will yield measurable results remains to be seen.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah framed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to protect Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves. “Government is putting resources where they matter most,” he said, adding that effective deployment of security forces depends on adequate mobility and infrastructure.
The Mahama administration has faced growing pressure from civil society and international partners to rein in galamsey operations, which have contaminated rivers, displaced communities, and undermined formal mining regulation.
Officials insist the donation reflects a strategic shift toward inter-agency collaboration and consistent enforcement. Yet observers note that without judicial follow-through and community engagement, the fight against galamsey risks becoming another cycle of high-profile gestures with limited impact.
The vehicles may boost visibility, but the real test lies in whether the task force can dismantle entrenched networks of illegal operators—many of whom enjoy political protection. For now, Mahama’s convoy of cruisers signals intent. Whether it delivers results on the ground will depend on what follows after the cameras leave.