The Hidden Costs of Galamsey: Infrastructure and Environmental Degradation in Ghana

Introduction

Ghana, a nation endowed with significant ecological wealth, from forest reserves of the Western and Eastern Regions to mineral-laden lands in Ashanti, now finds itself increasingly vulnerable to the destructive impacts of illegal small-scale gold mining, locally known as galamsey. These illicit activities have infiltrated 34 out of the country’s 288 forest reserves, resulting in the degradation of over 4,726 hectares of forest cover (Institute for Security Studies, 2024). Equally troubling is the widespread contamination of the country's water bodies.

About 60% of Ghana’s water resources are now polluted, largely due to the unregulated use of toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide (Al Jazeera, 2025). If current trends persist, experts have warned that Ghana could be compelled to import potable water by 2030. This article explores the devastating consequences of galamsey, examines the advocacy efforts led by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and emphasizes the urgent need for collective national action to confront and curb this growing crisis.

Galamsey

The term galamsey is a colloquial contraction of the phrase “gather them and sell,” aptly reflecting the informal and often chaotic nature of illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana. The practice has historical roots dating back to the pre-colonial and colonial eras, when indigenous mining activities were largely unregulated and served as a vital source of livelihood for local communities.

Over time, especially following the discovery of substantial gold deposits in regions such as Ashanti, Western, and Central Ghana, galamsey evolved into a vast underground economy. Today, it encompasses a sprawling network of miners, many of whom are young, unemployed, and driven by poverty. According to ENACT Africa (2023), over one million people are involved in small-scale mining across 14 of Ghana’s 16 regions, with more than 85% engaged in illegal operations.

In certain areas, foreign nationals, particularly from China, have collaborated with local miners, introducing advanced equipment and techniques that further intensify environmental degradation. Common galamsey methods include alluvial mining in rivers and streams, open-pit mining using excavators, often abandoned after use, and underground mining, where untrained miners dig tunnels without proper engineering knowledge or safety precautions. These methods, while profitable for the perpetrators, continue to pose significant environmental and public safety risks as discussed below:

Environmental Degradation

The environmental toll of galamsey in Ghana is both severe and far-reaching. One of the most alarming consequences is widespread deforestation. Illegal mining operations routinely clear vast tracts of forest without regard for conservation or sustainability. In the past decade alone, Ghana has lost approximately 1.6 million hectares of forest cover, over half of which is directly attributed to galamsey activities (Business & Financial Times, 2024). This deforestation undermines biodiversity, fragments wildlife habitats, destabilizes ecosystems, and contributes significantly to climate change by reducing the country’s carbon absorption capacity.

Equally devastating is the pollution of Ghana’s freshwater resources. Major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Offin, and Birim, once lifelines for agriculture, fishing, and domestic use, have become toxic channels, heavily contaminated by mercury, cyanide, and other chemicals used in illegal gold extraction. These pollutants not only destroy aquatic life but also pose serious health risks to communities that depend on these waters for survival.

According to the Ghana Water Company, more than 60% of water bodies in mining-affected areas are now polluted beyond acceptable safety standards, forcing higher water treatment costs and, in some cases, making water unsuitable for use altogether.

In the long term, if this environmental degradation continues unabated, Ghana faces a looming crisis: the potential need to import potable water. This dire forecast underscores the urgency for immediate, coordinated action. The cost of inaction is not only ecological but existential, for the environment, for public health, and for posterity.

Public Health Implications

The environmental degradation driven by galamsey has profound and direct repercussions on public health, especially in communities located near mining sites. Residents in these areas are disproportionately affected by a range of health conditions, including respiratory illnesses, waterborne diseases, and heavy metal poisoning. According to the Ghana Health Service, respiratory disease cases in galamsey-affected regions surged to 560 per 100,000 people in 2024, more than double the rate of 215 per 100,000 recorded in non-affected areas.

Mercury contamination, in particular, presents a grave health threat. Frequently used in illegal gold extraction, mercury seeps into water bodies and soil, exposing entire communities to toxic levels. Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable, with mercury exposure linked to severe neurological damage, developmental disorders, and long-term cognitive impairments (The Ghana Report, 2024a). Cyanide, another commonly used chemical, can also cause acute poisoning and organ damage when consumed through contaminated water or food.

The economic burden of these health impacts is staggering. Treating the diseases associated with galamsey-related pollution places immense strain on already stretched healthcare systems. These costs not only undermine national development but also perpetuate cycles of poverty in vulnerable communities, many of whom are already marginalized. The public health crisis induced by galamsey is a silent emergency, one that demands urgent attention and intervention from policymakers, healthcare providers, and civil society alike.

Economic Consequences

While galamsey contributes an estimated $2 billion to Ghana's informal economy annually, the environmental and social costs far outweigh these gains (Business & Financial Times, 2024). The government loses approximately $2 billion each year in tax revenues due to unreported gold exports (The Guardian, 2024). The agricultural sector, particularly cocoa farming, has been adversely affected. Illegal mining activities have led to the destruction of over 100,000 acres of farmland, undermining Ghana's position as a leading cocoa producer (Business & Financial Times, 2024b). In 2023, cocoa production declined by 5% due to the encroachment of illegal mining on cocoa farms (Tawiah, 2024). This not only disrupts the livelihoods of farmers but also threatens national revenue and food security.

Social and Developmental Impact

The pervasive influence of galamsey extends far beyond environmental degradation, posing a significant threat to Ghana’s social fabric and long-term development. At its core, illegal mining undermines progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), jeopardizing national and community-level advancement. Galamsey exacerbates poverty (SDG 1) by destroying lands, displacing farmers, and disrupting livelihoods in rural communities that depend heavily on agriculture. It also threatens food security (SDG 2) through soil degradation and contamination, making once-fertile lands unproductive. The health implications of galamsey contribute to a violation of good health and well-being (SDG 3). Access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) is critically compromised as galamsey operations pollute rivers, streams, and underground water sources. Lastly, galamsey impedes efforts to combat climate change (SDG 13) due to widespread deforestation and land degradation. The unchecked spread of galamsey presents a clear and present danger to Ghana’s sustainable development ambitions. Addressing it is not just an environmental imperative, it is a social and economic necessity.

NCCE’s Strategic Advocacy for Environmental Governance in Ghana.

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), established under Article 231 of the 1992 Constitution, has long served as an independent constitutional body responsible for fostering a well-informed and responsible citizenry. Although its core mandate is to promote civic consciousness, the NCCE has integrated environmental awareness into its civic education programming, recognizing that environmental protection is not just a technical issue but also a civic duty.

In the face of the growing threat of galamsey, the Commission has intensified its advocacy, firmly positioning environmental stewardship as both a civic obligation and a national imperative. Recognizing galamsey as a serious impediment to sustainable development, the NCCE has consistently called for more robust enforcement and accountability measures. The Commission underscores that galamsey is not merely an environmental issue, but a constitutional violation. Specifically, it breaches Article 41(k) of the 1992 Constitution, which obligates every Ghanaian citizen to protect and safeguard the environment.

In pursuit of its mandate, the NCCE adopts a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to public engagement. It conducts nationwide media campaigns, community outreach programmes, school-based education initiatives, and strategic partnerships with traditional authorities, faith-based groups, and civil society organizations. Notable among these is the Citizenship Week Celebration, a flagship program of the Commission aimed at nurturing responsible citizenship among pupils and students. The event emphasizes core civic values, including environmental stewardship, with symbolic tree-planting exercises serving as a central and inspiring highlight.

Also, in 2017, the Commission partnered with the Media Coalition Against Galamsey to spearhead a signature campaign. A total of eleven thousand, eight hundred and fourteen signatures were obtained and presented to the coalition's steering committee.

These efforts are designed not only to raise awareness about the environmental, social, and public health impacts of illegal mining but also to empower citizens to demand accountability, report illicit activities, and support sustainable alternatives.

By integrating environmental advocacy into its broader civic education agenda, the NCCE continues to play a vital role in Ghana’s collective response to galamsey. Its work reinforces the principle that environmental protection is not solely the responsibility of the state, but a shared civic duty essential to preserving the nation’s ecological integrity and developmental future.

Call to Action

Galamsey is more than an environmental crisis, it is a national emergency that threatens the health of our people, the integrity of our ecosystems, and the sustainability of Ghana’s development. Confronting this menace requires more than institutional effort; it demands collective civic responsibility, bold leadership, political will, and unwavering public resolve. Every Ghanaian has a role to play.

Citizens must rise beyond passive concern to active engagement, report illegal mining operations, protect water bodies, and preserve forest reserves. Traditional authorities and opinion leaders must leverage their influence to uphold accountability and champion sustainable land use.

Civil society organizations, the media, and educators must continue to inform, mobilize, and advocate for change.

Government agencies must act decisively, enforce environmental laws consistently, and dismantle the networks that enable illegal mining to thrive.

Above all, we must embrace our constitutional mandate under Article 41(k): to protect and safeguard the environment in the interest of current and future generations. This is not just a call to act, it is a call to stand. To stand for our rivers, our forests, our children’s future and to stand for Ghana. Let us not wait until the last river runs dry or the last farm turns barren. The time to act is now. Together, we can end galamsey and reclaim the promise of a greener, healthier, and more prosperous Ghana.

Follow us on our social media pages for more stories and posts from the NCCE.

Instagram