Ghana ranked as high-risk country for conflict minerals – Prof Anin

By Isaac AIDOO, Accra

THE Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has flagged Ghana as a high-risk country for conflict minerals, raising concerns over the potential impact of illegal gold mining on national security.

Renowned security expert Professor Kwesi Anin revealed this during a forum organized by the UK-Ghana Gold Programme and the Civil Society Organisations Alliance in Aburi.

Prof. Anin cautioned that the illegal practices linked to gold mining, including child labour and environmental degradation, could severely undermine the country’s stability and tarnish its gold trade.

Illegal Mining and National Security Threats

Prof. Anin warned that Ghana’s unchecked greed for resources, particularly in the gold sector, is leading the nation towards a significant crisis.

He drew parallels between the current situation and the collapse of Ghana’s diamond industry in the 1980s and 1990s, which was devastated by illegal activities and subsequently flagged by a United Nations (UN) fact-finding mission.

Prof. Anin cautioned that Ghana’s gold trade is at risk of becoming a similar avenue for financing criminal activities. He highlighted that Serious Organized Crime (SOC) groups, including drug trafficking organizations and insurgent groups, are increasingly using gold, often mined illegally in Ghana, to reap illicit profits that bolster their operations.

Impact on Local Communities and the Environment

The consequences of illegal mining extend beyond the gold trade itself. Prof. Anin emphasized that these activities not only violate Ghanaian laws but also pose an existential threat to the country.

The environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, particularly the destruction of critical water bodies, mirrors wartime tactics where water sources are deliberately contaminated to hinder enemies. Prof. Anin lamented that “we are the only country in history that has not gone to war, yet out of our greed, we have destroyed our water bodies”.

The security expert also pointed to the exploitative nature of illegal mining on local communities. Child labour is rampant in these operations, and the environmental degradation severely impacts the health and livelihoods of local populations.

Prof. Anin described illegal mining as a “conduit for long-running criminal acts and organized terrorism,” which compromise both national security and local supply chains.

Weak State Institutions and Organized Crime

Prof. Anin stressed that illegal mining thrives in regions where the state is weak, has limited presence, or colludes with criminals. He noted that the Ghana Police Service has reported a 25% rise in criminal activity in mining-affected areas over the past five years.

This increase in crime has eroded trust in local law enforcement and caused widespread insecurity. Through such activities, criminals have developed an efficient, low-risk business model that complements their traditional focus on trafficking.

The link between illegal mining and organized crime is clear. Prof. Anin explained that these criminal networks engage in mutually beneficial activities that threaten both national and regional security.

He cited a recent example where Mali halted the illegal export of cattle to Burkina Faso and Ghana, drawing attention to the complex network of illicit trade linked to gold mining.

The OECD’s High-Risk Classification

One of the most alarming revelations in Prof. Anin’s presentation was Ghana’s classification as a “high-risk country for conflict minerals” by the OECD. This designation underscores the growing concerns about the country’s gold mining industry, which is increasingly associated with illegal activities and human rights abuses. The OECD’s warning highlights the urgent need for Ghana to address these issues before the situation escalates further.

Call to Action

Prof. Anin concluded his address with a call for immediate action. He urged Ghanaians to abandon the notion of being a peaceful and hospitable nation, pointing out that despite not being at war, the country has inflicted significant self-harm through the reckless exploitation of its natural resources.

He stressed the importance of understanding the broader socioeconomic and political environments in which organized criminal groups operate and how these networks contribute to national and regional insecurities.

“We need to appreciate the wider socioeconomic and political environments and networks in which organized criminal groups and their activities create national and regional insecurities that result in regional security complexes,” Prof. Anin urged.

Ghana’s gold mining industry is at a critical juncture. The warnings from the OECD and experts like Prof. Anin highlight the need for immediate and decisive action to curb illegal mining activities and address the associated security threats. Failure to do so could result in the further deterioration of Ghana’s natural resources, the destabilization of local communities, and the erosion of national security.