Ghana: Review Strategies to Fight 'Galamsey' - Ghie Urges

What the report says

The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) is urging the government to review its approach to tackling illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, saying the campaign needs clearer goals and visible results. The call was reported by Ghanaian Times and distributed by AllAfrica. It came during the induction ceremony for 183 engineers in Accra, where GhIE President Dr Ludwig Annang Hesse said the issue has grown beyond an environmental concern to a broader national challenge.

According to the report, Dr Hesse said galamsey is affecting forests, rivers, farmland, food production and public health, and that a new strategy is needed if the country is to make lasting progress. He also linked the wider discussion to other infrastructure concerns, including unsafe buildings and flooding, arguing that stricter enforcement of building rules and professional standards is needed to prevent collapses and protect lives.

The event, held under the theme “Engineering Our Future, Do It Well, Do It Right,” also included remarks from Dr Patrick Amoah Bekoe, who reminded the new engineers of their public responsibility. The ceremony marked the induction of engineers who passed the March-April 2026 professional examinations, including members in civil, mechanical, marine, plumbing, mining, electrical and electronics disciplines.

The appeal matters because illegal mining has long been a major policy issue in Ghana, with links to environmental damage, water pollution and agricultural losses. GhIE’s comments add to ongoing calls from professional and civil society groups for stronger coordination, accountability and measurable enforcement in the response.