Across West Africa, the fight against illegal gold mining—often called "galamsey" in Ghana—has reached a fever pitch, drawing in governments, local communities, and international organizations. The problem is as much about economics as it is about the environment, and recent events in Ghana and Senegal have underscored both the urgency and complexity of the crisis.
On November 13, 2025, the National Inter-Agency Taskforce on Mining Operations and Security (NAIMOS) in Ghana made headlines by arresting ten armed men in the Nyankamam-Armori forest, located in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region. According to NAIMOS, these individuals had been masquerading as an anti-galamsey task force, claiming connections to the Aowin Paramount Chief. Their alleged authority allowed them to intimidate and extort money from illegal miners, ultimately facilitating the very activities they were supposed to prevent. The suspects, now in custody, were found with weapons and talismans, and will be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.
NAIMOS’s operation highlighted a persistent challenge: the infiltration of criminal networks into anti-illegal mining efforts, undermining trust and enabling further environmental destruction. The task force called on local communities and all stakeholders to unite against illegal mining, emphasizing the severe harm it does to both the environment and the well-being of residents.
Ghana’s struggle is not unique. Just across the border, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye took decisive action on the same day, ordering the creation of a National Gold Trading Centre. As reported by SWISSAID, a Swiss NGO, an estimated 36 to 41 tonnes of gold were illicitly smuggled out of Senegal between 2013 and 2022, costing the country between $2.38 and $2.71 billion. Artisanal and small-scale mining were identified as the primary sources of this undeclared gold, slipping through the cracks of official oversight and draining state coffers.
President Faye described the new gold trading center as a "sovereign imperative" and announced a comprehensive overhaul of the mining sector, prioritizing transparency and good governance. He tasked his government with drafting a new Mining Code and restructuring state-owned mining companies before the end of 2025. The scale of Senegal’s gold trade is staggering: in the first half of 2024 alone, exports reached about $244 billion, accounting for nearly 30% of the country’s total extractive sector exports. Yet, the massive outflows of undeclared gold reveal systemic weaknesses that Faye’s administration is determined to address.
Back in Ghana, the environmental toll of illegal mining is impossible to ignore. Over 4,726 hectares of forest land have been devastated across 34 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, and major rivers—such as the Pra, Offin, Densu, and Ayensu—have suffered severe contamination. Mercury and other heavy metals have pushed water turbidity levels to a shocking 14,000 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), rendering water unsafe for human consumption and threatening long-term public health.
The economic consequences are just as dire. According to data discussed on a recent Ghana Diaspora TV program in Antwerp, Ghana has lost an estimated $11.4 billion over the past five years due to gold smuggling. Illegal mining generated over $1.1 billion in earnings between 2019 and 2021, but because these operations avoid taxes and royalties, they siphon off critical funds needed for national development. The mining sector accounts for 17.1% of Ghana’s GDP growth, but the informal nature of galamsey undermines its potential.
The social costs are equally profound. Illegal mining has ravaged agricultural lands, including cocoa farms—vital to Ghana’s status as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer. Roughly 670 square kilometers of farmland have been destroyed, leading to food instability and soaring prices in affected communities. Violent clashes are not uncommon; in January 2025, nine unauthorized miners were killed during an incident at the AngloGold Ashanti Mines in Obuasi.
There are also growing fears that extremist groups operating near Ghana’s borders with Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire could exploit mining hubs for recruitment and resource mobilization. Foreign nationals, including Chinese and West Africans, have been implicated in illegal mining activities, leading some commentators to call for stricter penalties—including imprisonment before deportation—to deter future violations.
Amid these challenges, Ghanaian officials have stepped up efforts to combat illegal mining. Dr. Patrick Essien, Deputy Director in charge of Mining at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), recently commended President John Dramani Mahama, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, EPA CEO Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, and the Minerals Commission CEO for their coordinated approach. "Galamsey possesses one of the greatest threats to Ghana’s environment, especially our water bodies. It is, therefore, crucial that we find a lasting solution through unity, commitment, and actions from all sectors of the society," Dr. Essien told journalists, as reported by ModernGhana.
He praised the government’s stakeholder engagement at Jubilee House and highlighted the Goldbod initiative, which aims to ensure that gold buyers are licensed and permitted by the EPA—a step toward cleaning up Ghana’s gold supply chain. Dr. Essien also noted the EPA’s establishment of offices at major ports to monitor and regulate the importation of mining equipment and chemicals, an important measure to cut off illegal miners’ access to the tools of their trade.
But government action alone may not suffice. Dr. Essien called for expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities, arguing that equipping young people with employable skills could reduce their reliance on illegal mining for income. "No one can be left out in this galamsey fight. Traditional leaders, politicians, and stakeholders must unite to champion the course for the benefit of our nation," he emphasized.
Political debate about responsibility for the crisis has intensified. On Ghana Diaspora TV, Richmond Sarfo, spokesperson for the NPP’s Belgium branch, blamed the opposition NDC government for the ongoing threat, while others pointed to failures and corruption under both major parties. The program’s host, Simon Bonsafo Bawua, stressed the need for solutions rather than finger-pointing, noting that both the NDC and NPP have struggled to contain illegal mining.
The scale and complexity of illegal mining in West Africa demand a multi-pronged approach—one that combines law enforcement, regulatory reform, economic diversification, and community engagement. As both Ghana and Senegal ramp up their efforts, the region’s future may well hinge on whether these new strategies can finally turn the tide against galamsey and restore hope for sustainable development.
With billions at stake and entire ecosystems hanging in the balance, the outcome of this battle will shape not only the economies but also the environments and societies of West Africa for generations to come.
