Ghana GBA President: Galamsey Enforcement Needs Impartiality

• Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey urged the government to show political will and impartial enforcement against galamsey.
• Speaking at the GBA Conference 2026/27 in Ada, Ghartey warned that government statements on illegal mining are meaningless without action.
• She expressed concern over allegations of political party associates openly involved in illegal mining, causing severe environmental damage.
• Ghartey insisted that the fight against galamsey must not be influenced by political affiliation, power, or personal connections, and the law must apply equally to all.
• The GBA President called for the government to move beyond declarations and fulfill its campaign promises to end illegal mining.

The fight against galamsey must remain impervious to political affiliations, personal influence, or positions of power.

The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has issued a strong appeal to the government, urging it to demonstrate genuine political resolve in its campaign against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. Speaking on Monday, September 14, at the Ghana Bar Association Conference 2026/27 held in Ada, Mrs. Ghartey emphasized that governmental pronouncements must be substantiated by consistent and impartial enforcement actions. Her remarks were delivered during the conference, which convened under the theme, “150 Years of Ghana’s Legal Evolution: Transforming the Profession and Driving its Future with Industry.”

Mrs. Ghartey underscored the legal profession's inherent duty to address critical national issues with candor. She cautioned that any stated commitment from the government regarding galamsey would remain mere rhetoric if not accompanied by decisive and unbiased measures. The GBA President specifically called upon the administration to honor the pledges it made during its initial campaign against illegal mining, stressing the importance of translating these commitments into tangible outcomes rather than allowing them to be abandoned once political power is secured.

A significant point of concern raised by Mrs. Ghartey centered on persistent allegations that individuals connected to political parties are openly participating in illegal mining operations. This involvement, she noted, continues despite the severe degradation inflicted upon Ghana's vital natural resources, including its forests, water bodies, and agricultural lands. The ongoing destruction, according to the GBA President, casts serious doubt on the efficacy and fairness of current efforts to combat galamsey.

Mrs. Ghartey firmly asserted that the national endeavor to curb illegal mining must remain impervious to political affiliations, personal influence, or positions of power. She highlighted the particular distress caused by reports of politically associated persons engaging in these destructive activities while the nation's environmental assets suffer. The GBA's stance is that the law must be applied uniformly to all citizens, irrespective of their political leanings or social standing.

The Ghana Bar Association President urged the government to transcend mere declarations and translate its forcefully advanced positions from its anti-galamsey campaign into concrete, actionable strategies. She reiterated that the Ghanaian populace expects these commitments, including repeated promises to eradicate illegal mining, to be brought to fruition. The expectation is that the government will not perpetuate the very practices it previously condemned in prior administrations.

Mrs. Ghartey stressed that the fight against galamsey cannot be selective or partisan, insisting on the principle of equal application of the law for everyone. She concluded her address by calling for the government to exhibit the necessary political will to enforce environmental and mining regulations without fear or favor, thereby safeguarding the nation's natural heritage and its future prosperity.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Ghana's mining and environmental sectors should note the Ghana Bar Association's strong call for impartial enforcement against galamsey, particularly concerning political affiliations. This signals increased scrutiny and potential for stricter regulatory action or legal challenges against entities involved in or perceived to be benefiting from illegal mining, regardless of political connections, necessitating a review of compliance frameworks and risk exposure.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian news outlets