Ghanaian poet and playwright Chief Moomen has attributed the rising prevalence of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, to a significant lack of political will to enforce existing laws. In a recent appearance on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, he emphasized that without a dedicated effort from the government to prioritize the eradication of galamsey, all attempts to combat the issue will be futile.
Chief Moomen expressed that the core issue of illegal mining lies within the state itself, which includes various actors, government bodies, and political parties.
“…I feel that once the governance and state system has been ineffective, no matter how brilliant the policies are, if we do not have political will to implement the laws, to implement those policies, to hold people accountable, then this problem is just going to get worse,” he stated.
He further raised a crucial question regarding the change in the state’s approach to illegal mining: “To me, it is not rocket science. It comes down to the political will. Until we have leadership that is willing to exercise its power from the district assembly level all the way to the presidency, if that system fails then we will only be pouring water into an empty basket.”
Chief Moomen’s remarks came during a discussion with other creatives about the adverse effects of galamsey on the citizens of Ghana. This dialogue has gained renewed urgency following recent protests and marches by various groups advocating for action against illegal mining.
In response to the escalating concerns surrounding illegal mining, President Akufo-Addo has pledged to deploy additional military personnel to strengthen the fight against galamsey. He has also announced measures to suspend mining activities in forest reserves, enhance the prosecution of illegal mining cases, and called for a national pact to address the issue comprehensively.
