In a nation where rivers are dying and communities are gasping for clean water, the fight against galamsey — illegal mining — has never been more urgent. Yet, instead of uniting around the common goal of saving Ghana’s environment, the national conversation is being drowned out by partisan noise and political finger-pointing.
This week, a simple call to action from environmental advocate Edem Ashigbi sparked a national debate after he drew attention to visible galamsey operations near Simpa township, along the Tarkwa–Takoradi road. His post, which tagged President John Dramani Mahama, questioned why such activities were still happening openly despite government’s pledge to end the menace.
“Around the Simpa township on the Tarkwa to Takoradi road, there is galamsey happening in clear sight… They are working and polluting the waters,” he wrote. “HE John Dramani Mahama, please, this MCE cannot be representing your interests.”
What followed was not collective outrage about the illegal mining. Instead, it became another episode of political deflection. Presidential Staffer Stan Dogbe responded, accusing Edem of “negative advocacy” and political bias — a response that has since ignited public discourse on the true motives behind the fight against galamsey.
Beyond Politics: The Real Battle for Ghana’s Future
But Edem’s words go beyond politics. His frustration echoes the voice of many Ghanaians who are tired of watching leaders trade blame while rivers turn to mud and forests disappear.
“My focus has never been on those who see every national issue through partisan lenses,” he stated in response. “My commitment is to Ghana and to those who genuinely care about our nation’s future.”
Indeed, his advocacy dates back to 2017 — long before it became politically fashionable to talk about galamsey. Over the years, Edem and his coalition have presented research papers, engaged policymakers, and submitted proposals — including to the current Minister of Lands and to the former President himself. Yet, the same problems persist.
A Nation Poisoning Its Own Wells
The consequences of inaction are deadly.
Studies from the Water Resources Commission and the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis reveal that nearly 60% of Ghana’s water bodies are polluted, with most contamination linked directly to illegal mining. The Ghana Water Company Limited has warned that several treatment plants could soon shut down if pollution continues at the current rate.
This is not about politics — it’s about survival.
Communities downstream are paying the price. Farmers can no longer rely on the soil; children drink water laced with mercury; hospitals report rising cases of kidney disease and other toxin-related illnesses.
As Edem painfully put it:
“Perhaps some can afford imported bottled water like Voss. I cannot. My children and family depend on the same rivers being destroyed every day.”
A Call for Courage, Not Colour
Advocacy is not opposition. It is patriotism in action. Ghana needs more citizens who will speak truth to power — regardless of which party is in office. What the nation cannot afford is silence, or worse, the politicization of every effort to save its environment.
It is time for government — at every level — to rise above rhetoric. Illegal mining persists not because we lack knowledge or laws, but because we lack consistency, courage, and accountability. The men and women destroying our rivers do not ask which party is in power before they dig — so why should those fighting to save them be labelled partisan?
The Real Question
As Edem concluded in his heartfelt response:
“Why should I stay silent when I see wrongdoing? Even the President himself has called on all of us to support the fight against galamsey… So I ask: Do you want us to fix this problem, or do you not?”
Ghana must decide — and fast.
Because every river that turns brown, every forest that falls silent, and every young miner buried in a collapsed pit is a reminder that time, like our clean water, is running out.
