Former United Nations Senior Governance Advisor, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has thrown his weight behind the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana’s assertion that the illegal mining menace, known locally as galamsey, is largely driven by Ghanaian complicity rather than the actions of Chinese nationals.

Speaking on the JoyNews Desk programme, Prof. Agyeman-Duah described the ambassador’s comments as “both valid and timely,” adding that it was not the first time such concerns had been raised by the Chinese envoy.

He cited the ambassador’s account that many of the Chinese nationals involved in galamsey “are flown into Ghana, land at Kotoka International Airport, and are then transported by buses directly to mining sites.”

According to the governance expert, “most of these individuals come from rural backgrounds and lack advanced education or sophistication,” suggesting the existence of a highly coordinated recruitment and operational network.

“This suggests there must be official collusion or systemic failure enabling these foreign nationals to enter the country in large numbers and be shepherded directly to illegal mining operations,” Prof. Agyeman-Duah asserted.

“In that respect, the ambassador is absolutely right—the problem is us, not the Chinese.”

He called on the government to intensify efforts to combat galamsey by tightening immigration controls and dismantling the networks facilitating the entry and movement of illegal foreign miners.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah expressed concern over the lack of progress in the fight against galamsey, stating that despite political promises and legislative actions, the crisis has worsened six months into the current administration’s tenure.

He pointed to recent revelations of official complicity, referencing the case involving Dr Bissue, who was reportedly confronted by a senior police officer, as well as investigative journalism exposing the involvement of senior political party officials in illegal mining.

He criticised the ineffectiveness of regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission and the Gold Board, stating:

“We arrest illegal miners and seize gold, yet transparency and accountability remain woefully absent.”

Calling for decisive leadership, he urged the government to abandon half-measures and adopt a bold and courageous stance.

“There is an urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of our approach to combating galamsey. The government must be bold, courageous, and unwavering,” he stressed.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah warned that the previous government’s failure to effectively deal with galamsey significantly eroded public trust and contributed to their electoral defeat. He urged the current administration not to repeat the same mistakes.