Prof Lumumba Calls Out Governance Failures as Galamsey Crisis Deepens

Pan-African thinker and governance advocate, Prof Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, has linked the continuing rise of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) to deep-rooted weaknesses in governance systems, warning that Ghana is edging toward an environmental disaster due to slow and ineffective action.

Addressing a virtual environmental forum hosted by the Institute of Governance Ethics and Religion (IGER-AFRICA), Prof Lumumba said the widespread destruction of rivers, forests, farmlands and community livelihoods demands a response that matches the scale of an emergency, not routine political talk.

The forum was held under the theme “Navigating the Challenges of Illegal Mining in Ghana: Impact on Individuals, Communities, Health and Policy,” the conference explored the human, ecological and policy failures fuelling the crisis.

Prof Lumumba argued that the lure of quick financial gains has diverted many from productive work into illegal mining, a trend he described as socially and economically ruinous. He cautioned that continued degradation of soil, water bodies and the food chain threatens the well-being of every Ghanaian.

“The urgency of doing the right thing cannot be overstated,” he said, emphasising that procrastination is worsening the damage.

He criticised governments for delivering promises rather than results, stressing that leadership must be measured by outcomes, not political declarations. According to him, administrations that pledged to end illegal mining should be held accountable for producing visible and measurable progress.

Expanding the issue beyond Ghana, Prof Lumumba pointed out that Africa’s mineral wealth is still largely controlled by foreign entities. He stated that in most African mining countries, the likes of Ghana, the DRC, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Nigeria, major mining firms are dominated by foreign ownership, often limiting African influence over resources.

He questioned how galamsey continues to thrive despite Ghana’s extensive legal frameworks, regulations and policy commitments. The real question, he said, is why enforcement remains weak while environmental destruction intensifies.

IGER-AFRICA, organisers of the conference, continue to champion ethical leadership, good governance and interfaith engagement as tools for building peace, justice and sustainable development across the continent.