The leader of Yellow Ghana, Samuel Apea-Danquah has stated that illegal mining is a serious issue that many do not fully grasp, putting Ghana on a perilous path that could lead to becoming a failed state.

He noted that while media attention is currently focused on the contamination of drinking water and health problems like kidney disease in young people and birth defects, the situation is even more alarming.

Mr Apea-Danquah explained that those involved in protecting illegal mining operations are often armed, making the threat far greater than just environmental damage.

In a Facebook post, the leader of Yellow Ghana stated, “The gold that drives this destructive activity will inevitably run out one day. When it does, the economic boom currently enjoyed by landlords and businesses in these mining towns will collapse. As the gold miners and their protectors leave, the local economy will face a sharp downturn, leaving behind a community burdened by poverty once again.”

Mr Apea-Danquah explained that the armed protectors of illegal mining operations, accustomed to defending gold with weapons, will eventually be left with guns but no income, creating a potential security threat to the region.

He also pointed out that the once fertile land, previously used for agriculture, will be stripped of its topsoil, rendering it barren and unable to support plant life.

The leader of Yellow Ghana said that this loss of arable land will have long-term consequences for food security, worsening poverty and hunger in the region.

Mr Apea-Danquah emphasised that the townspeople, who have grown dependent on the wealth from gold mining, will soon face the harsh reality of renewed poverty.

He warned that the artificially inflated standard of living driven by the gold rush will collapse, leading to social unrest and a decline in overall well-being.

“In the long run, the community will suffer not only from economic decline but also from environmental destruction and social instability. The consequences of galamsey extend far beyond the present, threatening the future of the region and its people. The short-term gains from illegal mining are fleeting, but the damage left behind will last for generations, leaving a legacy of poverty, barren land, and a community struggling to rebuild.”