Celebrated Ghanaian investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has expressed deep scepticism about the government’s latest efforts to curb illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’, questioning both the seriousness and sustainability of such initiatives.

Speaking on the "Anatomy of Returnee Presidency" series, an initiative of Gold Coast University, on Friday, May 9, Mr Awuni stated that while there have been high-profile announcements banning illegal mining and launching environmental restoration projects, including tree planting and water protection schemes, these measures have historically failed to yield results.

“I’m not very enthused until we get to the implementation,” he said. “Ban illegal mining, launch tree and water initiatives – these are not new. I have done stories about the tree planting in northern Ghana under SADA, and I know it was a failure.”

The journalist raised concerns that current interventions mirror the ineffective strategies of the past.

“As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing that is being done differently from what we’ve seen before. It’s still the same approach – send soldiers in, arrest a few people – and in some ways, it’s even worse now,” he said.

Mr Awuni was particularly critical of the government’s reported reluctance to prosecute foreign nationals, especially Chinese citizens involved in illegal mining operations.

“It is even worse now that the government has made it a policy not to prosecute the Chinese. I’m saying Chinese because they are the foreigners who are often asked to go home peacefully. This, for me, doesn’t make sense,” he remarked.

“I’m yet to see anything meaningful when it comes to fighting illegal mining,” Mr Awuni concluded.