Africa: Ghana Must Stop Galamsey Before It Sinks the Country

Political interests must be set aside to prevent illegal mining from devastating the country’s forests, farmland and water system.

Illegal small-scale mining in Ghana is destroying the environment, making people ill, adding to water scarcity and damaging farmlands and crops such as cocoa.

Galamsey, as it’s known locally, can also include large mining firms operating against the law. It is carried out by Ghanaians and foreigners, including Chinese and West African nationals from Burkina Faso and…