The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Accra, convened the Western Regional Validation and Dialogue Workshop on the Safety and Security Ecosystem of Illegal Mining on Tuesday, March 18.

The event brought together a broad array of stakeholders, including representatives from the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the National Peace Council, the Minerals Commission, chieftaincy and defence sectors, the former Commander of the Vanguard, and the Director of NAIMOS.

The workshop, held at the Raybow International Hotel in Sekondi-Takoradi, follows extensive field research across the Ashanti and Western regions and their surrounding mining corridors, which has revealed that galamsey has grown from a predominantly informal livelihood activity into a deeply entrenched political, social, and economic ecosystem.

Sustained by patronage networks, capital-intensive extraction, and weak institutional oversight, illegal mining now permeates local and regional governance, shaping land authority, labour relations, and community safety.

Field findings underscore that insecurity linked to galamsey is experienced not only through visible crime or violence but also through persistent fear, declining access to clean water and arable land, and perceptions that enforcement is selective or influenced by political and economic interests.

Women and children are disproportionately affected, often engaged in hazardous ore processing or other mining-related labour that exposes them to exploitation, health risks, and long-term social harm.

At the institutional level, district assemblies, regulatory agencies, and security services operate within a fragmented governance landscape marked by limited resources, political sensitivities, and unclear mandates.

This has led to episodic enforcement, weak follow-up, and public perceptions of limited state capacity.

Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Ángel Lossada Torres-Quevedo, emphasised the importance of international collaboration during his opening address.

Highlighting the partnership between the Spanish Embassy and KAIPTC, he remarked: “The safety and security of this country is also part of the safety and security of Spain.”

Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo stressed the necessity of a holistic approach, recognising that galamsey encompasses social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

While KAIPTC leads operational initiatives on the ground, the Embassy provides strategic support, ensuring that all stakeholders, including regional partners, are engaged in coordinated interventions.

Air Vice Marshal David A. Akrong, Commandant of KAIPTC, described the Western Region as “the heart of Ghana’s contemporary mining economy,” noting its dense concentration of formal mining operations, transport corridors, coastal and inland communities, and cross-border commercial networks.

He warned that illegal mining has become a “complex political and economic ecosystem” affecting land access, labour relations, and community safety, while testing the effectiveness and coordination of state institutions.

Communities face a delicate balance between immediate income needs and the long-term consequences of environmental degradation and social disruption.

Air Vice Marshal Akrong also highlighted the growing link between illegal mining and illicit weapons circulation, raising concerns for both local communities and frontline security personnel.

He advocated for strengthened governance, accountable security measures, and community-centred approaches to mitigate risks.

The workshop served as a platform to validate research findings with local experience and professional judgement.

Contributions from traditional leaders, regulators, security actors, civil society representatives, and community advocates will inform the national policy dialogue forum in Accra, ensuring that policy responses are grounded in practical realities rather than assumptions.

Air Vice Marshal Akrong urged participants to engage with openness, professionalism, and shared responsibility.

“This is a moment to build trust, foster partnerships, and ensure that interventions are both practical and enduring,” he noted.

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson highlighted the economic incentives sustaining galamsey, noting that communities often have a direct stake in mining activities.

“Communities are ready to protect galamseys. Women cook food for the galamseyers; it’s an economic powerhouse for them,” he explained.

Minister Nelson recounted personal field experiences, including river-based operations along the Ankobra, which degrade the environment and compromise water resources for local communities.

He also noted that formal employment opportunities in plantations often fail to compete with the immediate financial rewards of gold mining, creating a “chicken-and-egg” challenge in offering viable alternatives.

He urged policymakers and development partners to design attractive and sustainable opportunities for youth, stressing that enforcement alone cannot resolve the issue.

The workshop emphasised the need for inclusive, structured engagement that brings together communities, traditional authorities, civil society, regulatory institutions, and national policymakers to co-develop operational pathways.

Both Ambassador Lossada Torres-Quevedo and Mr Nelson highlighted the importance of integrating social, economic, and security considerations to achieve sustainable, long-term solutions to galamsey.