President John Dramani Mahama has admitted that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, involves actors across political, traditional, and even his own networks, warning that the fight against the practice will be challenging but must continue.

“And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he said during a meeting with Organised Labour at Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, explaining that illegal mining operators often shift allegiance when governments change.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation… will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We too will be getting small, this is what we are doing,” he added.

The President’s candid remarks highlight the deep entrenchment of galamsey in Ghanaian society and the complexities faced by authorities in enforcing anti-illegal mining laws.

He acknowledged that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) faces strong resistance from communities, where chiefs, youth, and residents often obstruct enforcement efforts.

“They go to a community and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. I don’t kid myself that we will be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue,” he said.

President Mahama also linked the rise in illegal mining to economic pressures in the cocoa sector, noting that low producer prices have pushed some farmers to abandon cocoa farming for gold mining.

“And it doesn’t help when we have crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he explained. The government is introducing a pricing mechanism to ensure farmers receive up to 70% of the global cocoa price, a measure he hopes will discourage the shift to illegal mining.

The President further highlighted logistical challenges, including the lack of patrol boats and monitoring equipment for waterways and forest reserves. He said the government is working with the Ministries of Finance, Defence, and Interior to provide the necessary resources and facilities to strengthen anti-galamsey operations.

Galamsey continues to be a persistent national issue, with environmental, social, and economic consequences. President Mahama’s remarks underline the need for sustained political will, adequate resources, and community cooperation to curb the menace effectively.