Rev. Charles Owusu, the former Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission, has called for a radical shift in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
He argued that the ongoing struggle cannot be won through rhetoric, political interference, or isolated crackdowns.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme on Tuesday, April 22, Rev. Owusu stressed that galamsey is a long-standing issue that will require time, strategy, and unwavering political will to eradicate.
“It cannot simply be wished away, as it has been entrenched for so long,” he remarked, suggesting that substantial time and effort would be necessary for its eradication. He also recalled that the late President J.E.A. Mills had established a task force to combat galamsey during his tenure.
Rev. Owusu lamented the spread of illegal mining activities across the country, particularly following the withdrawal of military personnel from anti-galamsey operations in November 2022.
He expressed concern over the continued expansion of the problem, stating, “It is saddening that the scourge is spreading even as we continue to wage the war to eradicate it.”
He acknowledged that while the current government made strong commitments to combat galamsey while in opposition, the reality has proven to be more complex. “I know this government said a lot while in opposition, but I am aware that the fight will not be won in a single day. It requires careful planning, which must be followed through to ensure success,” he stated.
Rev. Owusu referenced the recent invasion of the Subri Forest Reserve by over 10,000 illegal miners and highlighted the scale and speed of the environmental degradation. “Consider the number of people who have invaded the forest and wreaked this havoc. Dismantling the settlement and destroying their belongings does not mean they have left,” he cautioned.
Drawing a biblical analogy, he warned that ineffective or unsustained interventions could worsen the situation. “The Bible says if you cast out one demon, it goes in search of seven stronger ones and returns with them. Similarly, these illegal miners will find a way to return,” he explained.
He aligned himself with calls made by former Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, for a more action-oriented approach. “How to sustain the fight is of great importance to me, and I subscribe to Omane Boamah’s recommendation. It must be less talk and more action. Anyone engaged in an illegality must face the law,” Rev. Owusu emphasised.
The emotional public reaction of Lands Minister, Armah Kofi Buah, who was seen in tears during a recent media engagement about the devastation caused by illegal mining, was also criticised. Rev. Owusu remarked, “The Lands Minister’s crying will not solve the problem. It may even signify failure, suggesting that he is overwhelmed, which is why he is crying.”
He continued, “We have been empowered by the state to correct wrongs. We cannot expect President Mahama to come crying because life has become difficult. Lands Minister Armah Kofi Buah should lace his shoes and get to work. We want to see him succeed.”
While acknowledging the need to keep the public informed, Rev. Owusu stressed that emotion alone cannot address the crisis. “Weeping in public does not solve the issue. More illegal miners are entering the fray day in and day out, even as we take some out,” he added.
In what he described as a long-term solution, Rev. Owusu proposed the establishment of a Forest Protection Unit within the Ghana Armed Forces, specifically tasked with guarding forests and lands vulnerable to illegal mining.
“If we want to succeed, politicians must stay away. We should establish a Forest Protection Unit as a wing of the Armed Forces and assign them the responsibility for managing forests and lands—particularly those areas that are being devastated,” he recommended. “Galamsey would be a thing of the past, and we would no longer need to hold this conversation.”
He also proposed setting up mechanised barracks in key regions across the country. “Let the Ashanti Region have its mechanised barracks, specifically dealing with illegalities within and outside the forest domain. Let the Western Region, Western North, and Northern Region each have their own. Then, we will not need to have this conversation again.”
When asked about concerns over possible military compromise, Rev. Owusu responded firmly, saying, “Won’t you be concerned if you hear that the Ghana Armed Forces have been compromised? That will not happen. The issues you speak of usually arise when operations are led by politicians. How can a party loyalist arrest a party chairman involved in galamsey?”
He contrasted this with military training zones, such as the Achiase Jungle Warfare training school, which remain untouched. “Have you heard of anyone undertaking galamsey in the Achiase Jungle, where the military has its training base? It cannot happen because it is a military zone. If we want to fight galamsey, we must declare such areas military zones, except where proper mining licences have been issued,” he said.
Rev. Owusu credited the idea to former Lands Minister Collins Dauda and called for bipartisan cooperation to remove politics from the galamsey debate. “The galamsey fight has been mired in politics for far too long,” he said. “The NDC told the NPP that the war could be won in a day if the government were committed by declaring a state of emergency. Now, the NPP is telling the NDC to declare a state of emergency. This back-and-forth will get us nowhere.”
He concluded by urging that the establishment of forest protection units and military zoning be prioritised. “How would anyone attempt illegal mining in the Subri Forest if it has been handed over to the military for training? No one would dare,” he argued. “Let us take action and stop wasting money. We can even allocate funds to the Armed Forces to recruit staff for this job. Within four months, they will get it done.”
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