Ghana's Economy
Galamsey: Illegal Gold Mining
How illegal small-scale gold mining, called galamsey, pollutes rivers, destroys cocoa farms and involves foreign miners, and the struggle to stop it.
Galamsey means illegal small-scale gold mining.
Scale
Thousands of unlicensed miners dig for gold across Ghana.
Harms
- Rivers turn brown with mud and mercury.
- Cocoa farms are destroyed.
- Water treatment becomes costly.
Foreign involvement
Some operations involved Chinese nationals and equipment.
Livelihoods
Galamsey offers income where jobs are scarce, making it hard to stop.
Responses
- Bans and military operations.
- Protests demanding action, including in 2024.
Trade-off
Enforcement must balance livelihoods and the environment.
The brown river
The Pra River turns brown from galamsey sediment, forcing water plants to shut.
Thinking illegal mining is a small problem
It pollutes major rivers.
Key takeaways
- Galamsey is illegal gold mining.
- It pollutes rivers and destroys farms.
- It offers income, making it hard to stop.
- Protests demand action.
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