The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has called for a broader strategy to combat illegal mining, arguing that efforts focused solely on miners at illegal mining sites will not end the galamsey crisis.
He said authorities must trace the financial and logistical networks that sustain illegal mining by targeting financiers, equipment suppliers, gold buyers, middlemen and other actors who operate behind the scenes.
Mr Dwumfour made the call on Tuesday at the 2026 National Mining Dialogue in Accra, where he urged authorities to adopt what he described as a “follow the chain” and “follow the money” approach.
“Our response to illegal mining must also go beyond the person operating the excavator,” he said.
According to the GJA President, removing an excavator or arresting an operator without disrupting the network that finances and facilitates the activity only creates room for another operator to take over.
“The illegal gold economy has financiers, equipment suppliers, buyers, middlemen and other interests behind it,” he said.
He consequently called for the law to be applied equally to all persons involved, regardless of their political, economic or social influence.
“The law must apply equally,” he stressed.
Mining’s economic gains
Mr Dwumfour acknowledged the significant contribution of the mining sector to Ghana’s economy but argued that financial returns alone should not determine whether mining activities are beneficial to the country.
He cited figures showing that producing member companies of the Ghana Chamber of Mines paid GH¢17.68 billion in fiscal payments to government in 2024.
However, he said the country must also examine the environmental and social costs associated with mining.
“We must also ask: At what cost? Who benefits? Who bears the consequences? And what are we leaving behind when the minerals are gone?” he asked.
Drawing on his experience growing up in Tarkwa, one of Ghana’s major mining areas, Mr Dwumfour said mining had created economic opportunities but had also placed pressure on land, water bodies and livelihoods.
Protecting responsible small-scale mining
The GJA President further cautioned against treating all small-scale miners as illegal miners.
He noted that thousands of Ghanaians rely on artisanal and small-scale mining for their livelihoods and called for credible measures to bring responsible operators into the formal sector.
He said such an approach would allow government to protect livelihoods while enforcing environmental standards and dealing firmly with illegal operations.
GJA to independently investigate galamsey
Mr Dwumfour also announced plans by the GJA to conduct an independent nationwide assessment of the galamsey situation.
The initiative will begin with a one-week dialogue and symposium on illegal mining, followed by a field exercise involving veteran and experienced journalists.
The team is expected to visit mining-affected communities and sites, assess the condition of rivers and degraded lands, and engage miners, farmers, traditional leaders, regulators and other stakeholders.
Mr Dwumfour said the exercise would be conducted independently of government and political interests.
“We will report what we find. If there has been progress, we will say so. If there are gaps, we will identify them. If there have been failures, we will report them,” he said.
He urged journalists to maintain their independence while scrutinising government policies, mining companies and regulators and ensuring that the concerns of affected communities are heard.
The 2026 National Mining Dialogue, organised by Asempa 94.7 FM and its Ekosiisen programme in partnership with Semmis DS and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, brought together government officials, traditional leaders, mining industry representatives, regulators and other stakeholders.
Held under the theme “Mining, Local Content and the Catchment Compact: Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate,” the forum focused on how Ghana can maximise the benefits of mineral extraction while protecting the environment and the interests of future generations.
