Illegal Mining Poses Major National Security Threat – KAIPTC Research

Takoradi, March 17, – A KAIPTC workshop has identified illegal mining (galamsey) as Ghana's greatest emerging threat to human and national security, fueling smuggling, human trafficking, violent extremism, drug trade, and environmental devastation.

Research Findings

KAIPTC Senior Researcher Mr. Ernest Ansah Lartey presented two-week findings revealing galamsey's evolution into an organized, mechanized network backed by financiers, heavy equipment, and political patronage. "Target the masterminds, not just the 'boys and girls' executing orders," he urged.

Rivers Ankobra, Bonsa, and Pra suffer severe pollution, while roadsides bear dangerous excavation scars. Nigerian nationals reportedly fuel the supply chain through parts sales and repairs.

Multi-Sector Impact

Security Threat	Consequences
Gangerism	Armed clashes, improvised weapons
Health Crisis	Mercury poisoning, water contamination
Economic Loss	Farmland destruction, community instability
Political Enablers	Chiefs, landowners prioritize profit

Regional Minister's Response

Western Regional Minister Mr. Joseph Nelson called for alternatives beyond basic skills training and drastic measures: "Strip chiefs overseeing galamsey of their lands through outright forfeiture." He revealed 11 of 14 Western Region districts ravaged, announcing three new NAIMOS monitoring bases in Ellembelle, Amenfi East, and Ahanta West.

Workshop Context

Participants from security agencies, traditional authorities, media, and state institutions validated findings from the Spanish Embassy-sponsored "Safety and Security Ecosystem of Illegal Mining in Ghana" research. Comparisons to Hotel Rwanda underscored fears of Ghana's bleak trajectory without collective action.

GHBUSS

17 March 2026