Prof. Appiagyei-Tua Characterizes Ghana Illegal Mining as Transnational Organised Crime
University of Ghana law professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tua characterized illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, as a transnational organized crime enterprise.
In Brief
- •University of Ghana law professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tua characterized illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, as a transnational organized crime enterprise.
- •Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile program, he asserted that operations are driven by profit, corruption, coercion, and violence.
- •He emphasized that illegal mining networks now involve political figures and government appointees alongside operational miners.
- •The analysis underscores the increasing institutional complexity in combating illegal extraction in Ghana.
Why It Matters
Framing galamsey as transnational organized crime shifts the perception of illegal mining from small-scale environmental infractions to a major governance and national security issue. The involvement of political actors and organized syndicates suggests that traditional local policing methods are insufficient without targeted anti-corruption enforcement and institutional reform.
Key Details
- Key Speaker
- Prof. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Tua
- Institutional Affiliation
- University of Ghana School of Law
- Broadcasting Forum
- JoyNews Newsfile
- Core Characterization
- Transnational Organised Crime
Context & Background
Illegal gold mining, locally referred to as galamsey, has persisted in Ghana for years, causing widespread environmental degradation to waterways and forest reserves despite periodic governmental crackdowns.
Original Reporting & Sources
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