According to the Minority in Parliament, illegal mining activities, locally referred to as galamsey, led to the deaths of at least 17 individuals within the first seven months of 2025.
The group criticised what it termed as institutional weakness and insufficient political resolve, arguing that the government’s failure to enforce existing laws has allowed the crisis to persist, endangering both human life and the environment.
During a Parliamentary address on November 5, 2025, Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to the problem.
“From January to July 2025, Ghana recorded at least 17 deaths linked directly to galamsey activities. These are not mere statistics; these are Ghanaian lives—breadwinners, mothers, sons, and daughters lost to the reckless pursuit of unregulated mineral wealth,” Mr. Konadu said.
He noted that despite numerous policy initiatives, the government’s lack of consistent enforcement continues to allow galamsey operations to thrive.
“Mr. Speaker, how many lives must be lost before an urgent, decisive action is taken? The prevalence of death and environmental collapse is a direct consequence of ineffective law enforcement, the lack of political will, and, in some instances, the complicity of some state actors and traditional authorities,” he stated.
The Minority recommended stronger institutional coordination, stricter prosecution of offenders, and transparent monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability and long-term sustainability in the fight against illegal mining.
