Mahama links galamsey fight to job creation, promises alternative livelihoods for youth

President John Dramani Mahama has connected the fight against illegal mining, known as galamsey, to job creation and the promise of alternative livelihoods for Ghana's youth. Speaking at the Western North Regional House of Chiefs, the President announced that his government's New Economy Policy aims to invest in sectors with high employment potential, such as tourism, to generate opportunities and deter youth from illegal mining.

Mahama explained that the enforcement of the ban on illegal mining has revealed the extent to which economic hardship has driven young people, including high school students, into the activity. Many have confessed that their families' inability to provide them with money to attend school has led them to engage in illegal mining for income. He highlighted that hundreds of young people have been arrested in connection with illegal mining, with many more awaiting trial and others on bail.

While the government will continue to enforce the law against illegal mining, Mahama emphasized the need to address the underlying economic conditions that make the activity appealing to vulnerable youth. He stressed that alongside legal measures, the government must provide alternative sources of income, which is why the New Economy Policy is being implemented.

The President expressed optimism that a US$10 billion investment in employment-generating sectors, including tourism, would create jobs for young people and reduce their inclination towards illegal mining. He encouraged traditional authorities to support the government's campaign against illegal mining, particularly activities that destroy forest reserves and contaminate water bodies.

The government has allocated additional funds in the 2027 Budget to recruit more Blue Water Guards to patrol rivers and other water bodies to protect them. In an effort to restore degraded forest areas, the Ghana Gold Board is working with the military to reclaim land damaged by illegal mining. Bulldozers will be used to level affected land, and the Forestry Commission will support the reclamation process by planting economic trees.