Illegal mining now a party branch activities – Dr. Samuel Afriyie alleges
Dr. Samuel Afriyie, Senior Marketing lecturer at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU)
A Senior Marketing lecturer at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has sparked a national conversation by describing illegal mining, also known as galamsey, as a political party branch activities in Ghana.
He believes the strong ties between political parties and illegal mining operations have made the fight against environmental degradation nearly impossible.
According to Dr. Samuel Afriyie, most political parties, during election campaigns, promise their supporters mining concessions if they win power.
This, he said, emboldens party loyalists to engage in illegal mining with impunity, believing they have political protection regardless of the environmental damage caused.
“It’s difficult for any government to genuinely end galamsey when the activity is deeply rooted in party support and campaign promises,” Dr. Afriyie said.
“The fight against illegal mining is already compromised once it becomes politicized,” he added, during a panel discussion on Otec FM’s morning show ‘Nyansapo’ hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Depoliticizing the fight against galamsey
He warned that no amount of government commitment or military intervention will succeed unless the issue is depoliticized.
Dr. Afriyie added that politicians must stop using concessions as rewards and instead focus on building sustainable and legal mining practices.
Dr. Afriyie called for a unified national approach to tackle illegal mining.
“Until we treat this as a collective environmental threat and not a partisan matter, the fight against galamsey will remain a failure,” he cautioned.
Environmental threat knows no party lines
Dr. Samuel Afriyie emphasized that illegal mining is an environmental threat that knows no party lines.
He advises that “until Ghanaians see galamsey as a national issue that requires a collective response, regardless of political affiliation, the fight against it will be meaningless.”
The way forward
According to Dr. Afriyie, Ghanaians must prioritize the protection of the environment over party politics.
By doing so, he said the country can ensure a safer and more sustainable future for all its citizens.
“The fight against galamsey requires a collective effort, and it is time for Ghanaians to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal,” he concluded.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
