Mining Consultant, Wisdom Gomashie, has criticised government’s handling of illegal mining (galamsey), describing the fight as increasingly ineffective and poorly coordinated.
Speaking in an interview on ABC In the Morning, Gomashie said the battle against illegal mining has become “a herculean task” for those entrusted with managing it, insisting that the situation on the ground reflects a lack of meaningful progress despite earlier political promises.
“The fight against galamsey is becoming a herculean task for the people who have been entrusted with the responsibility to manage it,” he stated.
He recalled past political statements made while in opposition, referencing claims that illegal mining could be eliminated quickly.
“in opposition, we have had senior offcicals today in government like Hon. Sam George promising that galamsey is something which a serious government can just end it in two weeks, we are approaching two years in this administration and we have not seen anything meaningful”
Gomashie also questioned commitments made in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, particularly the promise to deploy Artificial Intelligence in the fight against illegal mining.
“Regarding the NDC’s manifesto, the president today in opposition then promised that they were going to use Artificial Intelligence, A.I to fight illegal mining”
However, he argued that such a strategy has not materialised in any practical form.
“the fact remains that we have never seen anywhere, where artificial intelligence has been deployed to stop mining across the country”
He further criticised the party’s earlier stance on community mining schemes, which it reportedly described as politicised and a driver of illegal mining activities.
“the NDC manifesto also promised that the community mining scheme activities that was been undertaking by the previous government was too partisan and was encouraging galamsey”
Gomashie referenced the deaths of eight individuals who died while reportedly travelling to Obuasi to rebrand the initiative, expressing concern over the delay in implementing reforms in their honour.
“and may the souls of the gallant 8 rest in perfect peace. They were on the route to Obuasi to rename this policy into cooperative mining scheme and they lost their lives. Almost two years down the lane, I have just sent an RTI to the ministry of lands to give an update on that policy”
He added that progress on the proposed cooperative mining scheme has been minimal, saying only a few have been launched and even those are not operational.
“the cooperative mining scheme which they had promised to create to serve as enticement mechanism to call off all this illegal guys from the water bodies, almost years now, only 3 have been launched, even those that has been launched, are not in operation”
According to him, the government’s overall approach appears disconnected from the realities of the fight.
“the government though they are fighting the menace, it appears it is totally disconnected”
Despite his criticism, Gomashie called for public support for government efforts in addressing the issue.
“all I will say is that we should all support the government in any small way we can”
However, he raised further concerns about transparency in the operations of GoldBod and government’s gold purchasing arrangements, alleging that accountability gaps could be worsening the situation.
“Government’s failure to bring out the list of people GoldBod is buying their gold from, and even this draconian 127 tonnes of Gold to be bought in 2026 alone, is an attestation to the fact that the government led by John Dramani Mahama are all complicit in this galamsey menace”
He also criticised a recent presidential comment suggesting that it is better to purchase illegally mined gold than have it smuggled out of the country.
“Recently the president even in his own speech at the jubilee house, when he met the cso’s that it is better for us to get the illegally mined gold than it been smuggled outside “
Gomashie warned that such statements could unintentionally encourage illegal mining activities.
“the statement of the leader of the country like this in this format, emboldens the illegal miners to continue with what they are doing because the president of the state has even given them market that even if they mine illegally, they will buy their gold”
