“Galamsey” refers to illegal mining in Ghana. After returning to power in December 2024, President John Mahama has vowed to intensify efforts against this issue. He is already facing a crisis, as seven illegal miners died last weekend during a clash with the army.
On the evening of January 18, seven illegal miners were killed in a gunfight with the army near AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi gold mine. This tragedy occurred just weeks after President John Mahama's inauguration, prompting him to order an immediate investigation into the circumstances of this "unfortunate" incident, according to a press release issued on January 19 by the presidency.
The situation is sensitive because the Obuasi gold mine has a history of conflict with illegal miners. In 2016, illegal miners invaded the site, forcing operations to halt. Although gold production resumed in 2019, tensions remain despite efforts by national and local authorities to reach a compromise. AngloGold Ashanti has not yet commented on how this incident will affect its gold production at Obuasi.
This situation also comes at a critical time for President Mahama, who promised during his campaign to find a lasting solution to illegal mining. Recent estimates suggest that illegal mining employs around one million people and supports over four million in Ghana. However, it is often criticized for harming the environment, as miners use methods that pollute soil and water.
“We will compel small-scale miners to undertake skills training in modern responsible methods and land reclamation techniques as part of their operations to minimize environmental harm," said John Mahama, who also proposed stricter penalties for illegal mining.
It remains to be seen which measures will be implemented and how effective they will be against illegal mining. During his previous term, President Mahama struggled to find lasting solutions to this issue, and his successor Nana Akufo-Addo's efforts also fell short.
Emiliano Tossou
Niger’s economy grew 10.3% in 2024 and is projected to expand 6.6% in 2025. Yet non-performin...
• Africa counts 211 active data centers, with 46% located in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt...
Zenith Bank picks Côte d’Ivoire for $90M debut into Francophone Africa, confirming ambition t...
• Benin’s FeexPay and Côte d’Ivoire’s Cinetpay receive BCEAO payment service licenses• Both firms ex...
Indus Towers to expand into Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia, leveraging Airtel and cost-efficient towe...
Proparco granted BCI Guinée a $10 million senior loan to boost SME financing, adding to earlier $19 million trade finance lines. SMEs...
Nigeria will spend 158 bln naira ($104.9m) to train 650,000 youths in technical and digital skills. The plan includes upgrading education...
Kenya is negotiating a $1 bln debt-for-food deal with the World Food Program. The plan would channel debt relief into farm projects,...
Disasters cause $12.7 bln in yearly damages to African buildings and infrastructure. Floods account for nearly 69% of losses, with energy and...
• Nigeria to turn Abuja stadium into culture, sports innovation hub• Project includes museum, arenas, markets, and youth creative center• Gov’t...
The Tomb of Askia is one of the most important historical and cultural monuments in Mali, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. Located...