Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has called for stronger regional and international cooperation to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

He warned that the galamsey menace is borderless and poses serious threats to governance, security, and economic stability.

Speaking at the West Africa Mining and Security (WAMS) Conference, organised by the Australian High Commission at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the Minister described illegal mining as a dynamic and transnational industry that undermines peace and sustainable development.

“Illegal mining undermines governance, promotes corruption, threatens national stability, and facilitates the laundering of criminal proceeds,” he said, stressing its devastating impact on the environment, economic development, and climate change mitigation efforts.

He revealed that 64 per cent of illicit and organised crime proceeds in Ghana and the sub-region are linked to environmental and natural resource crimes, with illegal mining identified as a major driver.

To confront this, he noted that the government has stepped up efforts through joint security operations, legal prosecutions, and environmental protection initiatives.

While acknowledging mining as a vital engine of growth in Ghana and West Africa, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak cautioned that unchecked illegal mining fuels money laundering, terrorist financing, and ecological destruction.

He called on participants to pursue practical measures, including aligning mining governance with intelligence-led security strategies, strengthening regional collaboration, and ensuring that mining contributes not only to revenue but also to resilience, peace, and environmental sustainability.

Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones, also stressed the importance of partnerships in combating illegal mining.

Australia’s Ambassador for Counter Terrorism, Gemma Huggins, also warned that terrorism remains a pressing challenge in the sub-region requiring a coordinated, multifaceted response.