A former National Security Coordinator under the John Agyekum Kufuor administration, Francis Kwaku Poku, has said Ghana will lose its very existence if the government doesn’t take decisive action on illegal mining.
Also known as galamsey, illegal mining has destroyed forest reserves in the country and polluted water bodies where turbidity levels cannot be treated by the Ghana Water Company Ltd., forcing them to shut down some of their treatment plants.
Recent research has revealed that soil in mining areas where galamsey is prevalent has been contaminated with chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, used by illegal miners, thereby affecting food produced in these areas.
Commenting on the issue on TV3’s Agenda on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Mr. Poku indicated that the problem persists due to the blame games that have characterised the fight against galamsey.
According to him, until attempts to find scapegoats and apportion blame are left behind, the problem will keep exacerbating without a proper solution.
“We’ve come to a point where our very existence has become a very relevant issue,” he warned.
“Let’s put the argument and blame game behind us and, as a nation, we now have to deal with the safety and extent of the problem,” he stated.
He cautioned that Ghana is heading towards a trajectory that will be damning if care is not taken. “In security terms, we’re heading towards an insurgency because we’re dealing with armed groups and a huge national budget if we want to solve the problem.”
He added that the nation needs a budget to address the issue and also remedy the damage that has been caused; otherwise, “we are going to lose our very existence, not our lives, but the way the international community deals with us.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has invited major civil society organisations (CSOs) to the Jubilee House for a high-level engagement on the canker.
The meeting, scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 noon, will bring together government officials and civil society leaders to deliberate on lasting solutions to the environmental and social crisis caused by galamsey.
In a letter signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the dialogue is described as a platform for “frank and constructive discussions” to harness collective expertise and perspectives.
“This engagement aims to provide a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge,” the letter stated.
The engagement comes at a time when illegal mining continues to spark widespread public concern over the destruction of water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves, amid calls for stronger government action.
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