Enforcing environmental laws carries political cost, while offenders go unpunished – Frimpong-Boateng

Former Environment Minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng attributes Ghana's ongoing environmental issues to a political system where officials enforcing laws face consequences while offenders escape punishment. He argues that this imbalance has hampered efforts to combat illegal mining, known as galamsey, despite its severe environmental damage.

At a recent conference, Frimpong-Boateng highlighted that successive governments have attempted to tackle the issue through policies, task forces, and military operations, yet struggled to maintain these initiatives. He cited various measures taken in 2017, including a ban on artisanal mining, Operation Vanguard, and the formation of district committees, which initially showed results.

However, he notes that many of these safeguards were abandoned after the mining ban was lifted in 2018. The former minister also shared a report he submitted detailing the extent of illegal mining and the obstacles to enforcement, which was met with more scrutiny of his motives than the report's content. Frimpong-Boateng suggests that Ghana's environmental policies are hindered by short-term political considerations, as the immediate costs of enforcement can impact election outcomes, while benefits are often delayed.

He proposes a National Environmental Compact, a negotiated agreement across political parties and approved by Parliament, to ensure long-term environmental commitments. This proposal aims to prevent governments from easily abandoning environmental policies by holding them accountable for the consequences of their decisions.