An environmental policy analyst has called on the Government of Ghana to fundamentally rethink its approach to illegal small scale mining, arguing that repeated crackdowns have failed to solve the country's galamsey crisis and should give way to comprehensive reforms centred on licensing, environmental protection and community development.
In a peer reviewed policy brief titled From Crisis to Opportunity: Rethinking Small Scale Mining in Ghana, Dr. Josephine Amponsem says the country stands at a critical crossroads where small scale mining can either remain a source of environmental destruction or become a catalyst for jobs, wealth creation and sustainable economic growth.
For years, successive governments have relied heavily on security operations to combat illegal mining. Dr. Amponsem argues that the strategy has delivered only temporary results because it fails to address the underlying causes driving people into the sector.
She notes that despite decades of mining regulations, more than 70 percent of small scale miners continue to operate without licences, largely because the licensing process remains expensive, slow and susceptible to corruption.
"As long as unemployment persists and permits remain out of reach, miners return. The cycle repeats; rivers darken; and farmlands vanish," Dr. Amponsem states.
"The solution lies in rethinking small scale mining, not just by licensing operators but also by adopting policies that tackle the root causes of the problem," Dr. Amponsem states.
A roadmap for reform
Rather than treating artisanal miners solely as lawbreakers, the policy brief proposes integrating them into the formal economy through simplified licensing and stronger institutional support.
According to Dr. Amponsem, formalisation would allow miners to receive training in safer and environmentally responsible mining methods while enabling government to collect taxes and royalties that currently disappear through informal gold trading networks.
It would also improve access to financing and encourage miners to organise themselves into cooperatives, making regulation more effective.
The policy also advocates stricter environmental land characterisation to identify areas suitable for mining while permanently protecting rivers, forests and other ecologically sensitive zones from mining activities.
Communities must benefit
Dr. Amponsem further argues that large mining companies should be required to invest more directly in host communities through schools, healthcare facilities, clean water systems and environmental restoration.
She believes stronger corporate participation would reduce tensions in mining areas while creating lasting economic opportunities beyond gold extraction.
At the same time, investment in agriculture, vocational training and small businesses would provide young people with realistic alternatives to illegal mining.
While acknowledging challenges such as bureaucracy, corruption and competing stakeholder interests, the policy brief insists that meaningful reform remains achievable with political commitment and public participation.
"Small scale mining has the potential to create jobs, boost revenue, and protect the environment," Dr. Amponsem writes, warning that failure to act decisively risks further degradation of Ghana's rivers, farmlands and livelihoods.
She concludes that the country can transform the sector "from a destructive crisis into a multifaceted opportunity and a driver of sustainable development" if reforms are implemented without delay.
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