Convener of the OneGhana Movement and Trustee of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, Senyo Hosi, has described illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, as an “endemic” problem that has become deeply entrenched in Ghana’s economic and social life.

Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews on Saturday, August 22, Mr Hosi said galamsey has evolved beyond an illegal mining activity into a major source of livelihood for many people, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to eliminate it through enforcement alone.

“The socioeconomic reality is that galamsey has become a livelihood,” he said.

“It is so endemic, you can hardly separate it from the path of politics, economics and community harmony. The chiefs are supporting it. The families are supporting it,” he added.

Mr Hosi said the financial returns from galamsey have made the activity particularly attractive to young people, including those with little or no formal education.

“A JHS school dropout goes into a pit and is making GH¢3,000 to GH¢10,000 a week,” he said.

He questioned whether many formally employed graduates could earn comparable incomes within Ghana’s formal economy.

“How many of the people in this office, in Multimedia Group Limited, make GH¢3,000 a week? Graduates, how many of them?” he asked.

‘Our Only Path Forward Is Fixing Galamsey’

Mr Hosi argued that Ghana has moved beyond the point where simply fighting or attempting to completely stop galamsey can provide a sustainable solution.

“You can't fix this. We have moved past the point of no return,” he said.

He therefore called for a shift in policy from fighting galamsey to formalising and regulating the sector.

“Our only path forward is fixing galamsey, not fighting and stopping galamsey. We can't,” he stated.

Mr Hosi said the country’s dependence on gold makes the issue even more complex, noting that gold accounts for a significant proportion of Ghana’s export earnings.

“63% of our total exports is dependent on gold. More than half of it is ASM gold,” he said.

He maintained that because artisanal and small-scale mining contributes significantly to gold production, policymakers must find ways to bring the sector under effective regulation rather than relying solely on attempts to eradicate it.

Mr Hosi also argued that the influence of galamsey extends beyond mining communities into Ghana’s broader political and economic system.

He therefore called for a more realistic policy approach that recognises galamsey’s economic importance while addressing its environmental and social consequences.