SUBTHEMES: Day 1: The Challenges of Galamsey for Sustainable Development Day 2: The Costs of Repair Day 3: Proffering Solutions
Introduction
The GAAS Public Forum is one of the flagship programmes of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), convened to facilitate evidence-based dialogue on critical national issues. The 2025 edition, held from 2nd – 4th June 2025 at the GAAS Auditorium in Accra, focused on the theme “Galamsey Revisited”, examining the complex effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment, health, economy, and institutions.
Through three sub-themed sessions: “The Challenges of Galamsey for Sustainable Development,” “The Costs of Repair,” and “Proffering Solutions”, the Forum gathered experts, policymakers, traditional authorities, civil society actors, the media, and students to explore root causes, impacts, and potential remedies for one of Ghana’s most pressing developmental emergencies.
Day 1 – Subtheme: The Challenges of Galamsey for Sustainable Development
The Forum opened with a keynote address by the President of GAAS and Chairperon for Day one, Professor Isabella Quakyi (FGA), who described illegal mining as “ecological terrorism” and warned that Ghana is on the brink of “ecological suicide” without bold legislative and policy interventions. She called for the revocation of L.I. 2462, a ban on alluvial mining, and held political and judicial complicity responsible for much of the inaction.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, who spoke on the topic “Ecological and Environmental Damage”, called illegal mining a syndicated form of organised crime. He blamed systemic governance failure and political interference for the worsening crisis and called for a state of emergency to protect water bodies, especially the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim Rivers. He also disclosed that illegal mining activities had contributed to a 40% drop in cocoa production between 2023 and 2024.
Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, an investigative journalist with Multimedia Group, addressed the topic “The Social and Economic Damage” providing a frontline account of the devastating impacts of illegal mining on rural communities. He emphasized the need for stronger regulatory enforcement, alternative livelihood interventions, and the deployment of satellite and digital surveillance tools to curb illegal mining operations.
The session was attended by various stakeholders, including students from Accra Academy and Labone Senior High School, highlighting the Academy’s commitment to youth engagement in environmental and national development discourse.
Day 2 – Subtheme: The Costs of Repair
Emerita Professor Takyiwaa Manuh (FGA), Vice President of the Arts Section of GAAS, chaired the second day’s session. She called for urgent education reform to equip students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to address national issues such as illegal mining. She proposed introducing real-life environmental scenarios like galamsey into national academic contests such as the National Science and Math Quiz, and advocated for a mining-specific research fund.
Dr. Kwadwo Ansong Asante, who spoke on Bioremediation, Rehabilitation, Monitoring and Coordination, presented technical and financial dimensions of bioremediation, land rehabilitation, and water treatment. He attributed the limited success of past initiatives to poor coordination, lack of sustained investment, and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Dr. Albert Kobbina Mensah echoed similar concerns, warning that much of the environmental damage could be irreversible. He emphasised the importance of evaluating mining activities not only through an economic lens but also by considering their impact on livelihoods, ecosystems, and public health.
Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, a public health expert whose topic was the “Health Cost: Human and Ecological Assessment”, described galamsey as a public health emergency, citing evidence of rising kidney failure, cancers, and neurological conditions linked to exposure to mercury and lead. He highlighted associated social challenges, including substance abuse, child labour, and family breakdowns, urging the implementation of surveillance systems, targeted health responses, and environmental monitoring in affected areas.
The audience for day 2 included students from Presbyterian Senior Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) and Accra Girls’ SHS, further demonstrating the Academy’s ongoing investment in the involvement of the youth in national conversations.
Day 3 – Subtheme: Proffering Solutions
The final day of the forum centred on actionable proposals to address the galamsey crisis and chart a sustainable path forward.
The session opened with a presentation by Mr. Ace Ankomah Esq. (FGA), a legal practitioner and governance advocate, who addressed the topic “Overhaul of National Institutions Regulating Mining: Role of Local Institutions including Chiefs.
He argued that Ghana’s failure to tackle illegal mining stems from entrenched structural and constitutional flaws. He proposed two major reforms: (1) the creation of a one-stop, independent Natural Resources Commission to consolidate regulatory bodies overseeing mining, water, forestry, and fisheries; and (2) the establishment of a National Prosecutions Authority, independent of the executive, to handle all criminal prosecutions, including those related to environmental crimes. These reforms, he contended, are essential to ending political interference and regulatory fragmentation.
Professors Yaw Adu-Gyamfi (FGA) and Professor RoseEmma Mamaa Entsua-Mensah (FGA), who are both fellows of the Academy, outlined a comprehensive roadmap to address the galamsey crisis and restore environmental integrity in Ghana. Presenting on the topic “The Way Forward,” they called for the immediate cessation of all mining activities in water bodies and the ban and confiscation of “shaans”, the machines heavily used in illegal operations on water bodies. Describing the destruction of rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim as “Ghanaians waging war against themselves,” the presenters proposed a range of practical and policy interventions to reverse the trend. These included a national rainwater harvesting policy, the establishment of water quality monitoring stations, and increased investment in modern treatment technologies for affected communities.
They further stressed the importance of reviving traditional ecological knowledge systems, engaging scientists in national recovery efforts, and adopting a restorative justice approach, such as having illegal miners participate in land restoration rather than serve prison terms. They advocated the inclusion of ecosystem restoration programmes in tertiary curricula, alongside consistent environmental education and community-led initiatives.
The session was enriched by the participation of students from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) and Achimota School, who posed insightful questions and contributed meaningfully during an enlightening Q&A session. Day 3 was chaired by the Vice President of the Sciences Section of GAAS, Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah (FGA)
Conclusion
The 2025 GAAS Public Forum on “Galamsey Revisited” provided a timely, evidence-based platform for confronting one of Ghana’s gravest national emergencies. Through expert presentations, youth participation, and multi-sectoral collaboration, the forum exposed the systemic failures driving illegal mining and outlined concrete, constitutional, technological, and ecological pathways for change. The Academy remains committed to leveraging knowledge to influence public policy and protect Ghana’s environment, people, and future.
