Galamsey fight will fail without traditional leaders - Sam Jonah

Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, Sir Sam Jonah, says that Ghana’s fight against illegal gold mining, commonly known as galamsey, will not succeed

Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, Sir Sam Jonah, says that Ghana’s fight against illegal gold mining, commonly known as galamsey, will not succeed without the full involvement of traditional authorities and local communities.

Speaking during a fireside chat organised by the School of Communication Studies at the University of Wisconsin in Accra, Sir Sam highlighted the critical role chiefs play in resource governance, stressing that enforcement, not legislation is the missing piece in tackling the galamsey crisis.

“The laws are there; don’t mine in forest reserves, and when you do, you have to clean it up. So, it is not that we need more laws; it is the case that we need more enforcement.

He warned that ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining will remain ineffective if the government continues to sideline traditional leaders and local stakeholders who have direct oversight over lands and forests.

His remarks come at a time when civil society groups and environmental advocates are calling on the government to declare a state of emergency in illegal mining hotspots to address the environmental devastation caused by galamsey activities.

Sir Sam, a respected voice in Ghana’s business and mining sectors, argued that while Ghana has strong laws to regulate mining, political will and accountability remain weak. Without genuine collaboration with communities and their leaders, he said, enforcement efforts will fall short.