Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has cautioned that the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will remain an uphill battle as long as individuals within the system continue to defy the law and frustrate efforts to address the menace.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, June 20, Mr Kpebu stated that there are always deviant actors in the society who sabotage genuine attempts to end galamsey operations.

"What I will say is, it is sad, but it is a reflection of society, that generally, you will not find everybody conforming, no, you will find people who will always want to be deviants, it is the nature of things," he said.

The discussion followed revelations by JoyNews' Erastus Asare Donkor, who reported ongoing illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region despite numerous interventions.

His investigations have highlighted the complicity of some officials and local actors in perpetuating the practice.

Mr Kpebu stressed that without addressing the entrenched interests and rogue elements embedded in enforcement agencies and local governance structures, the battle against galamsey will continue to face significant setbacks.

"What we should be pushing for is further investigation and prosecution, that is what we have to do because, as for people doing what they are doing it is expected that, in human nature, you will always find deviants."

He urged the need for stronger policies, but also to ensure that accountability mechanisms are robust enough to weed out saboteurs from within the system.

"Let us put all the energies we can into advocating for further investigation nd prosecution."

The continued degradation of forest reserves and water bodies as a result of illegal mining has reignited public debate, with many calling for a more resolute, systemic, and corruption-free approach to ending the practice once and for all.