A University of Ghana law professor, Prof Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tua, has warned that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise involving networks of influential individuals, political actors and other powerful interests.

According to him, the fight against galamsey cannot be won by targeting only the miners operating at illegal mining sites, as the practice is sustained by wider networks driven by profit, coercion, violence and corruption.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, the Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Ghana School of Law described galamsey as a form of transnational organised crime, arguing that its operations extend beyond the activities of individual miners.

Galamsey now a transnational organised crime – UG Law Lecturer

Expressing disappointment over the scale of the problem, Prof Appiagyei-Tua said the alleged involvement of politically influential individuals had made the fight against illegal mining more complicated.

"I am saddened; I don't know what words to use now, but I think the bottom line is that we should understand that galamsey is a transnational organised crime.

"This is a crime that seeks to make a profit through coercion, violence, and corruption. And we have seen that through networking, not only among the criminal actors but also among political appointees and the government in power, in several ways," he said.

His assessment points to what he considers a major weakness in Ghana's efforts to tackle illegal mining: the tendency to concentrate on operators at mining sites without adequately addressing the networks and influential interests allegedly financing, protecting and benefiting from the trade.

The professor's comments also raise questions about accountability, particularly where individuals with political influence are alleged to be connected to illegal mining operations.

His position is that galamsey should be treated as a broader organised criminal activity rather than simply an environmental offence or a problem involving people mining without permits.

NA/EA