The illegal small-scale mining of gold in Ghana is a major phenomenon with myriad dimensions. Tied largely to youth unemployment, the socio-economic angles of galamsey cannot possibly be overlooked.

It has been said that over 200,000 people are actively involved in galamsey and that those relying on it for their livelihoods in Ghana number up to 4 million!

The other side of the story, though, is that galamsey has ravaged Ghana's land and water resources and even costs the country lives in instances where illegal miners die in their makeshift mining pits.

In the case of Ghana's waterbodies, for example, galamsey has pushed up the Nephelometric Turbidity Units level from 54 NTU in 2007 to over 3,000 NTU currently, and Water Colour levels from 200 HU in 2007 to over 5,000 HU currently. This has even rendered the processing of raw water by the Ghana Water Company Limited a rather arduous task.

Reacting to the recent drive to curb galamsey, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah, speaking Thursday on the AM Show, said that, as far as he sees, galamsey has not stopped.

According to him, "Galamsey was there before I was born. It's not been solved. However, galamsey hasn't stopped. Where it's getting to, every Ghanaian who has any connection to this whole anti-social behaviour - it is not in the interest of anybody."

He continued, passionately emphasizing that he "wouldn't be surprised if some of our party people are involved [in galamsey]. And this time, let's all be honest. It's destroying us. The president is doing well. He has to do better! I'm from [the] Ashanti region. It's going on! And who and who are doing it?

"Who and who are involved? I don't think it's only the National Security operatives or the police who are doing that. I think you have NPP people in it; NDC people in it. Some DCEs would be involved. Even some chiefs are involved. Galamsey is still going on! It's destroying us and it has not stopped!"