The Persistent Challenge of Small-Scale Mining
By Dr. Ato Kwamena Danso · 2 July 2025 · Politics
I'm writing to you again about the devastating impact of small-scale surface mining or galamsey, on our water bodies. Despite numerous attempts to curb this menace, including deploying a "heart surgeon" to the forest, the situation has only worsened. Even the water guards those men and women in Adidas tracks commissioned to tackle galamsey have mysteriously gone missing. Now, Dr. Hannah Bissiw, a seemingly gentle lady, has ventured into the heart of the forest, "Rambo-style," to confront the issue. This move baffles me, especially considering we've previously deployed the military to the same areas with limited success. Yet, Dr. Bissiw, equipped with her own gear, a cameraman and a few policemen somehow successfully arrested several Chinese nationals actively destroying our water bodies. It's ironic, given that this government, when in opposition, vowed to end galamsey within a week, even promising to repeal the Legislative Instrument to ban galamsey in forest preserves. The last time the Deputy Communication Minister was questioned about declaring a state of emergency on galamsey, she skirted the issue, offering a convoluted and evasive response. Compounding this, I've heard the Chinese Ambassador question how his citizens gained access to Ghana's forests, seemingly implying complicity from within our own ranks. Given their skilled labor force, it's not surprising the Chinese are involved in these activities. However, the barbaric treatment Dr. Bissiw allegedly meted out to some individuals, seeing denying even a basic request for water, is deeply concerning and strikes at the core of human dignity. This incident brings to mind the Hawthorne effect: when cameras are rolling, people tend to act differently in her case acting like she's tougher than a brick. Dr. Bissiw's intentions were noble, no doubt, but her "jeans and a dream" approach to galamsey feels a bit like bringing a butter knife to a chainsaw fight. Without a state of emergency or the LI being repealed, her forest trek is sadly destined to be nothing more than a strenuous nature walk with an educational detour to the local kindergarten. Talk is cheap, Ato_kD