The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, has expressed concerns about Ghana’s ongoing battle against illegal mining, also known as “galamsey.”
Ambassador Verheul during an interview on Accra-based Joy FM’s AM Express, he attributed the country’s limited success in this fight to inadequate law enforcement.
Amb. Verheul highlighted the difficulty in maintaining effective enforcement, noting that arrested individuals often find themselves released from custody quickly. This, he explained, undermines efforts to combat the illegal mining activities that significantly impact the environment and local communities.
“There is not a lot of success in combating illegal mining, and if I speak to organisations that are forcefully opposing illegal mining, they tell me it is very difficult to get enforcement. For example, if the police act and arrest somebody, that person is often out of prison very soon.”
Despite a notable increase in gold production, Ambassador Verheul pointed out that this growth is predominantly within the informal sector. He prefers to refer to the issue as small-scale illegal mining, avoiding the term “galamsey” to dispel the notion that it is a culturally unique or inherently African practice.
Addressing the issue, Verheul emphasized that significant effort and genuine political will are necessary to curb illegal mining. He expressed skepticism about the possibility of completely eradicating the problem, suggesting that certain parties might benefit from its continuation and thus hinder enforcement efforts.
The Ambassador concluded that while he lacks specific expertise to identify these parties, a unified political resolve and enhanced enforcement capacity are crucial for Ghana to make meaningful progress in its fight against illegal mining.
