Ghana’s Stakeholders Unite Against Galamsey and Environmental Degradation

A 3-day National Landscaping Forum has concluded with a resounding call to action for all stakeholders to join forces in combating galamsey and environmental degradation in Ghana. The forum, held from April 2nd to 4th, 2025, emphasized the need for a collective approach to protect the country’s natural resources.

Key Takeaways
All Hands-on-Deck Approach: The Technical Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Lands and Technology, Mr. Joseph Osiakwa, stressed that a collaborative effort is essential to build a sustainable forest economy in Ghana.
Integrated Approach: Stakeholders emphasized the importance of adopting an integrated approach to tackle nature, forest, and biodiversity conservation, enhancing the ecological integrity of forests, wetlands, and ecosystems.
Natural Capital Accounting: The World Bank’s Program Leader for Sustainable Development, Naila Ahmed, announced the organization’s readiness to assist the government in utilizing the Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) model to measure and value Ghana’s natural resources and ecosystems ¹.

Expert Insights
Mr. Joseph Osiakwan: “The level of devastation to our environment and forests, owing to galamsey, warrants the urgent prioritization of the fight against the menace by all stakeholders.”
Mr. Asiakwan: “Consolidation of the gains made and lessons learned under various interventions and scaling up is necessary in our collective goal to protect our natural resources.”
Madam Naila Ahmed: “Natural Capital Accounting has been used in gathering data. The World Bank is ready to assist the government in this regard.”

Government Commitment
Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale: The Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources reiterated the government’s commitment to combating the galamsey menace, emphasizing the need for collective action to protect Ghana’s environment and forests.

The Way Forward
Experts agree that a holistic approach is necessary to combat galamsey, involving religious bodies, civil society groups, labor unions, and student organizations. Some paramount chiefs have successfully warned against galamsey in their areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of collective action. The government must prioritize enforcement of mining laws and regulations to prevent further environmental degradation.