Hot Source…But warns against heavy-handed tactics
The Human Security Research Centre, Ghana (HSRC-Ghana), has applauded President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to initiate a high-level dialogue with civil society organisations (CSOs) on the urgent issue of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
While urging decisive measures, HSRC-Ghana, however, warned the President against declaring a State of Emergency in communities affected by galamsey, stating that such a step could have unintended consequences for vulnerable citizens, including displacement and disruption of farming activities, thereby worsening human insecurity.
The meeting, scheduled for today, Friday, October 3, 2025, at Jubilee House, according to HSRC-Ghana, offers a crucial opportunity for honest and constructive discussions that can lead to practical and enduring solutions to this national crisis.
Illegal mining is not only an environmental and economic threat but also a significant human security challenge. It undermines livelihoods, contaminates water sources, fuels conflicts, disrupts farming communities, and weakens the resilience of vulnerable populations, said HSRC-Ghana in a statement.
It emphasised that “any sustainable solution must go beyond law enforcement and resource management to incorporate human security safeguards that protect lives, livelihoods, and the dignity of affected citizens.”
Although HSRC-Ghana has not been formally invited to participate in the dialogue, it states that, as a research institution with extensive experience in studying and advising on the human security dimensions of illegal mining, it finds “it imperative to lend our voice in support of this important initiative and to offer strategic recommendations to strengthen the outcomes of the meeting”.
“We commend the President for creating space for dialogue and urge all stakeholders to prioritise the long-term security and well-being of Ghanaian citizens as the ultimate goal in their deliberations”.
“Illegal mining is not only an environmental and economic threat but also a profound human security challenge. It undermines livelihoods, contaminates water sources, fuels conflict, disrupts farming communities, and erodes the resilience of vulnerable populations. Therefore, any sustainable solution must go beyond law enforcement and resource management to integrate human security safeguards that protect lives, livelihoods, and the dignity of affected citizens”.
HSRC-Ghana recommends that the discussions at Jubilee House concentrate on the following strategic areas: Designation of Security Zones. The President should declare important areas, such as forest reserves and riverine landscapes where galamsey activities are common, as protected security zones. This will preserve vital ecosystems and water bodies, while also sending a clear national message that certain areas remain prohibited for destructive mining.
Avoidance of State of Emergency: While decisive measures are needed, HSRC-Ghana cautions against declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected communities. Such a step could have unintended consequences for vulnerable citizens, including displacement and disruption of farming activities, thereby worsening human insecurity.
Community-Centred Solutions:HSRC-Ghana believes that effective interventions must empower local communities by promoting alternative livelihoods, strengthening youth employment programs, and ensuring community ownership of environmental protection initiatives.
Institutional Collaboration:Stronger partnerships between government, civil society, traditional authorities, and the private sector are required to design and implement policies that balance environmental sustainability with socio-economic development.
Sustainable Enforcement:Law enforcement strategies must be intelligence-led, transparent, and anchored on the principles of respect for human rights in order to avoid exacerbating tensions or victimising innocent community residents.
HSRC-Ghana firmly believes that this presidential initiative, if grounded in human security principles and collective action, can finally break the cycle of reactionary approaches that have failed in the past and establish a sustainable national framework to address the galamsey menace.
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