The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a stark warning about the escalating environmental and national threat posed by illegal mining, attributing its persistence to deep-rooted corruption and political missteps.
Speaking at the Global Mining Summit in Accra on Monday, the revered traditional ruler didn’t mince words. He called out what he described as a “cocktail” of regulatory failure, political miscalculation, and entrenched corruption that has consistently undermined efforts to curb illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey.
“The pollution of our water bodies, the destruction of our forests and the degradation of our virgin lands cannot be allowed to continue unchecked,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu said, addressing a packed audience of policymakers, investors, and environmental advocates.
Galamsey has long plagued Ghana’s mining sector, with successive governments vowing to tackle the crisis. Yet, despite various crackdowns, the practice continues—leaving rivers choked with silt and toxic waste, and communities grappling with the fallout.
“Let us not pretend,” the Asantehene said pointedly. “It cannot be denied that the cocktail of regulatory failures, political miscalculation, and corruption has combined to make the curbing of the menace more challenging.”
His comments come as Ghana faces mounting pressure from environmental groups and local communities to take firmer action against those enabling the illegal mining networks, many of whom are believed to have political ties or operate with impunity.
But the Asantehene also offered a glimmer of hope. He praised the government’s recent Gold for Oil initiative, describing it as a bold move that could reshape the mining industry and attract greater investment.
“The emergence of the new Goldbod is a creative initiative we need for the rise of the industry, increasing the prospect for more investment and higher yields,” he said, signalling cautious optimism for the future of Ghana’s resource sector.
Environmental campaigners say the King’s intervention is timely and may inject new momentum into what has become one of the most contentious issues in Ghana’s economic and environmental landscape.
As the summit concluded, one thing was clear: the call for action has been made from the highest traditional seat in the land, and the expectation now is for Ghana’s leaders to listen and act.
