Concerns have been raised that the long-term environmental and social impact of illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, could rival or even exceed the devastation caused by the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
In a public commentary, environmental advocate Efo Small argues that while the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which took place between the 16th and 19th centuries, drained Africa of millions of people and disrupted societies, galamsey represents a modern form of destruction that threatens the country’s natural life-support systems.
According to the analysis, the slave trade was largely driven by external forces, with European powers controlling the global trade network. Galamsey, however, is described as a largely self-inflicted problem, enabled by local actors and sustained through weak enforcement, political interference and public indifference.
The commentary notes that while slavery primarily resulted in the loss of human labour and population, galamsey is destroying critical natural resources, including rivers, farmlands and ecosystems. Several major water bodies, including the Pra, Ankobra, Birim and Volta river systems, have been severely affected by mercury and other heavy metals used in illegal mining activities.
Environmental experts warn that such damage could be irreversible, as contaminated water bodies and degraded soils may take centuries to recover, if recovery is possible at all. This, they argue, poses serious risks to public health, food security and long-term economic stability.
Unlike earlier historical atrocities, the analysis stresses that the dangers of galamsey are well documented, with repeated warnings from scientists, health professionals and environmental experts. Continuing the practice despite this knowledge is therefore described as deliberate negligence rather than ignorance.
The commentary also highlights what it describes as an irony in current political discourse, noting that African leaders, including President John Dramani Mahama, have called for reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade while illegal mining continues to damage Ghana’s environment. It argues that failure to decisively address galamsey could weaken moral arguments for accountability over historical injustices.
The author cautions that future generations may judge the current era not by past wrongs committed by external powers, but by the choices made by Ghanaians when they had the authority to protect their environment and natural resources.
The analysis concludes by urging decisive action against galamsey, warning that continued inaction could undermine Ghana’s long-term survival and development.
Source: Efo Small, Environmental Steward
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