Galamsey issues must not be treated with kid gloves, Those who damaged the railway line must be made to pay – Kwabena Owusu Dankwah (KOD)
Co-host of Kumasi Kessben Maakye, Kwabena Owusu Dankwah (KOD), speaking on Kessben FM, called for decisive action against illegal small‑scale mining, popularly known in Ghana as galamsey, especially with regard to its destructive impact on public infrastructure such as railway lines.
According to KOD, the time for leniency or soft handling has passed; there must be accountability, and those responsible must be held financially and legally liable.
Recent reports highlight how galamsey operations have gravely damaged portions of Ghana’s rail corridors. In particular, about 3 kilometres of the Takoradi‑Akyem line near Nsuta was destroyed by illegal mining operations.
The extent of the harm includes undermined tracks, collapsed foundations, and environmental degradation of the land under and around the railway.
The railway isn’t just steel and wood; it’s an artery for commerce, transport, and livelihoods. When mining disrupts or destroys these corridors, the costs ripple far beyond infrastructure repair, halting mineral haulage, increasing maintenance expenses, and degrading trust in governance.
KOD emphasised that the authorities must stop treating galamsey offenses with kid gloves.
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