Ghanaians voted change: What does it mean for the fight against Galamsey?
Over the past year, galamsey had once again become one of the biggest issues in Ghana. News outlets like Adom and Citi News constantly reported on how illegal mining was destroying our rivers and water bodies.
As a postgraduate student at UCC then, I saw the effects firsthand. Water shortages became common because the River Pra, which supplies parts of Cape Coast and Elmina, was polluted by illegal mining activities. This wasn’t just an environmental issue but a crisis that directly affected our daily lives.
In his final State of the Nation Address in January 2025, the outgoing President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo admitted how much the fight against galamsey had cost his government politically. “The fight against galamsey led to the loss of several parliamentary seats by my party in the 2020 elections, which ultimately influenced the composition of the eighth Parliament. This, in turn, affected the implementation of my policy agenda and had a significant impact on my second term as President.” (Arthur, 2025).
This statement accentuated a painful truth: the fight against illegal mining had serious political consequences. The NPP lost key seats, and some MPs, along with traditional leaders, seemed nonchalant to the problem. All of this contributed to the government’s eventual loss in 2024.
But for me, the bigger issue was not about politics—it was about water. Ghanaians, especially young people, protested and demanded change because they understood how important water is. Think about it: water is a part of everything we do. We use it to cook, clean, bathe, and drink. It sustains us, keeps our homes clean, and helps grow our food. Without clean water, life becomes impossible. That’s why the destruction of our rivers by galamsey felt so personal to so many people.
Now that a new government is in power, the questions that boggle my mind are: what will they do about galamsey? Will they take stronger action to protect our rivers? Will they work with local leaders and communities to stop illegal mining? Or will we continue to watch our water bodies disappear? During his campaign tour in Ningo-Prampram, His Excellency John Mahama promised to take strong action against Ghana’s illegal mining crisis. He stressed that his plans would ensure its complete eradication. While this promise was clearly a strategy, it raises important questions. How effective will these measures be? And how do we, as citizens, rise above the endless cycle of political promises that often go unfulfilled?
Illegal miners are often painted as the main culprits, the ones destroying our rivers and polluting our lands. However, the fight against galamsey is not just about punishing miners—it’s about saving our water, our environment, and our future. Ghana has faced the devastating impact of polluted water bodies for years, and we know how intensely this issue affects every aspect of our lives. If this fight fails again, I am certain we will see the youth rise in protest, just as they have in the past.
Political leaders must realize that these promises are not just words to be thrown around during campaigns. They carry the authority of hope for millions of people. If His Excellency’s plans to eradicate galamsey are to succeed, they must go beyond words. Real action is needed—an action that addresses the root causes of illegal mining, holds all responsible parties accountable and ensures long-term protection for our environment.
Leaders need to act decisively, not just to fulfill campaign pledges but to secure a future where every Ghanaian has access to clean water and a healthy environment.
Actions, not promises, will determine our future.
REFERENCES
Arthur, A. (2025, January). Fight against galamsey affected my party and presidency – Akufo-Addo. Citi Newsroom. Retrieved from https://citinewsroom.com/2025/01/fight-against-galamsey-affected-my-party-and-presidency-akufo-addo/
Korankye, K. A. (2024, October 21). Mahama promises swift action on economy, galamsey. Graphic Online. Retrieved from https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-mahama-promises-swift-action-on-economy-galamsey.html
ABOUT AUTHOR
Bright Aboagye is a Ghanaian who dreams of becoming a surrealist blues poet, writer and – with a passion for cooking – aspires to open a restaurant. Currently, he is an intern in ASEC's media and PR department. Bright hopes that his works inspire and give hope to all who read them. His writings can be found on: Medium: https://medium.com/@briswift34 and Blog: http://tayyashh1912.blogspot.com/