The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) has raised concerns over what it describes as a troubling lack of urgency from political leaders and civil society organisations (CSOs) amid escalating destruction of Ghana’s natural resources.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Executive Director of IERPP, Professor Isaac Boadi, said despite mounting evidence of illegal exploitation across the country, key stakeholders—particularly CSOs—have remained largely inactive since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took office in 2025.
He noted that between January 2025 and April 2026, at least 15 major cases of illegal resource exploitation were recorded across several regions, including Eastern, Western, Ashanti, Savannah, Western North, and Upper East.
Professor Boadi questioned the limited response from both political actors and civil society, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
“It is worrying that in the face of such widespread destruction, there has been little to no sustained action. The scale of environmental and economic loss should have triggered a stronger national response,” he said.
According to him, illegal small-scale mining—commonly known as “galamsey”—alongside unlawful logging and the degradation of water bodies, continues to drive the crisis.
He estimated that the country loses more than US$2.5 billion annually due to illegal mining activities, with an additional US$200 million to US$300 million lost through illegal timber trade.
Beyond the financial impact, Professor Boadi highlighted severe environmental consequences, noting that a significant proportion of Ghana’s water bodies have been polluted. Major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Offin, Birim, Tano, Densu and Black Volta have all been affected, with some recording dangerously high levels of contamination.
He warned that the situation is placing immense pressure on water treatment systems, making it increasingly difficult for the Ghana Water Company Limited to supply safe drinking water in some areas.
Deforestation, he added, is also worsening. As of August 2025, dozens of forest reserves had been impacted, with thousands of hectares destroyed—particularly in the Western Region.
Professor Boadi further pointed to what he described as political interference as a key obstacle in addressing the crisis. He said although there have been acknowledgements of the involvement of politically exposed persons in illegal mining, prosecutions have been limited.
He also cited concerns about alleged security lapses, including incidents where journalists covering illegal mining activities were attacked despite police presence.
While acknowledging that some organisations—including the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, A Rocha Ghana and the Ghana Journalists Association—have spoken publicly on the issue, he argued that their efforts have not translated into sustained action or measurable outcomes.
He also raised questions about the level of scrutiny from CSOs on high-profile developments in the extractive sector, warning that continued silence could undermine public confidence in accountability institutions.
Professor Boadi called for the establishment of an independent prosecutorial body, stronger monitoring systems, and decisive political commitment to tackle illegal activities in the natural resources sector.
He cautioned that failure to act decisively could have long-term consequences for the country’s environment, economy and water security.
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