The Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, has criticized government’s commitment to curbing illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and accused security agencies of losing interest in the fight.
According to him, enforcement and prosecution have broken down.
“We need to go after enforcement commanders and police commanders. The police is not willing and coordinated to prosecute these cases,” he alleged on TV3’s The KeyPoints on September 12, 2026.
“The state must ensure that anybody complicit in ensuring these lapses is brought to book,” Mr. Bosu stressed.
He listed some high-profile government appointees and National Democratic Congress associated persons, who are alleged to be engaged in galamsey and wondered what has been done about those allegations.
Mr. Bosu, whose organization has been at the forefront of advocacy to protect forest reserves and water bodies, said without accountability for state actors who enable illegal mining, the fight will remain ineffective.
Background
His comments come amid growing criticism of the Mahama administration’s anti-galamsey strategy, despite government’s claims of progress.
In the 2026 State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama announced measures including:
– Deployment of *1,634 Blue Water Guards* across 10 regions
– Setting up the *National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS)*
– Tracking of 1,033 excavators and earth-moving equipment
– Seizure of over 400 excavators
– Reclamation of 9 forest reserves previously overrun by illegal miners
The President has also said government is now targeting “kingpins” and financiers behind galamsey rather than just low-level operators, with over 114 case dockets before the courts, and has rejected calls for a state of emergency under Article 31.
However, environmental groups and commentators say prosecution remains weak.
A Rocha Ghana, which led campaigns against mining in the Atewa Forest, has repeatedly warned that Ghana’s water crisis is deepening, with the Ghana Water Company reporting high turbidity levels in major water sources due to galamsey pollution.
On the same KeyPoints show, IMANI Africa Vice President Kofi Bentil said: “There is no fight against galamsey today. Galamsey is worse today,” arguing that government activities have not translated into progress.
Mr. Bosu’s call adds to demands for not just miners, but also chiefs, political figures, and security commanders who aid or overlook the illegality to be prosecuted.
