By In a passionate plea, Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to remain unwavering in their fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, despite the recent change in government. The Minister’s statement, delivered during a meeting with former UTAG National Chairman Dr. Harry Agbanu in Accra on April 28, comes at a critical juncture as public frustration over the environmental devastation caused by galamsey continues to mount.
“I want to particularly thank UTAG for the principled decision you have taken to fight galamsey. Don’t let a change in government weaken your resolve or determination to demand accountability and decisive action from the state,” Iddrisu said, as reported by TV3 Ghana. He emphasized the need for sustained advocacy, urging UTAG to “keep up the advocacy” and not relent simply because a new administration is in place. “You believe it is wrong—and it is. So, continue the fight,” he added.
Galamsey has long been a contentious issue in Ghana, with illegal gold mining operations wreaking havoc on the country’s environment and economy. According to a 2024 BBC report, over 60% of Ghana’s rivers have been polluted by galamsey activities, with the Pra River becoming so contaminated that artists have used its discolored water as paint to highlight the crisis.
The use of mercury in gold extraction has led to severe health impacts, with WaterAid reporting that 79% of miners in Ghana’s Upper East Region suffer from health issues like chest pains due to their work. Additionally, the practice has contributed to massive deforestation, threatening biodiversity in regions like Brong-Ahafo, where studies have shown a marked decline in small mammal populations near mining sites.
The Minister condemned galamsey’s destructive toll, particularly its impact on Ghana’s cocoa sector, a cornerstone of the national economy. “It was wrong yesterday, and it is still wrong today. We cannot build a society that fails to protect its water bodies and livelihood, particularly when this matter is affecting the cocoa sector, which is the bone and strength of our national economy by way of foreign exchange earnings and in support to farmers,” Iddrisu stated.
Cocoa production, a major source of foreign exchange for Ghana, has been jeopardized by the degradation of arable land and water resources caused by illegal mining.
UTAG’s advocacy against galamsey gained prominence in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, when the association launched a strike to pressure the government into taking decisive action. The strike was suspended after assurances from the then-administration, but the issue remains unresolved. The Minister’s call to action aligns with a renewed wave of public activism, exemplified by a protest in Accra on April 28, 2025.
Led by media personality Okatakyie Afrifa, the demonstration saw hundreds march from Obra Spot through the city’s principal streets to Liberation Square near the Jubilee House, demanding accountability. Social media posts captured the public’s frustration, with some users like @TwoTerty1 criticizing past activists for abandoning the cause, while others, such as @SIKAOFFICIAL1, noted Afrifa’s dramatic gesture of invoking curses on those complicit in galamsey operations.
The protest, which followed an Accra High Court ruling on April 25 clearing the way for the demonstration, underscored the growing public discontent over the government’s handling of the galamsey crisis. Online discussions have highlighted the involvement of powerful figures, including politicians and foreign businessmen, in perpetuating illegal mining.
A post by @HeadlessYouTube contrasted the current administration’s tolerance with the previous government’s more aggressive tactics, noting, “Mahama is too tolerant. The other man blocked the protestors at 37 tooorr.”
President John Dramani Mahama, who returned to power in 2025, has made commitments to address infrastructural and environmental challenges, including a promise to construct a 3.6km bridge over the River Afram and 100km of road networks in the Afram Plains, as announced by Roads Minister Governs Kwame Agbodza. However, some Ghanaians remain skeptical of the government’s resolve.
X user @Chairman General called for the President to declare a state of emergency, warning that failure to act decisively is “eroding all the goodwill given him.”
As galamsey continues to threaten Ghana’s environmental and economic stability, the Minister’s appeal to UTAG signals a broader call for collective action. With the cocoa sector at risk, rivers polluted, and biodiversity declining, the fight against illegal mining remains a defining challenge for the nation. Whether the new government can deliver on its promises and curb the galamsey menace will be a critical test of its leadership—and the resolve of advocates like UTAG may prove pivotal in holding the state accountable.
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