The Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) Dr.

Steve Manteaw, believes that Ghana needs to put its money where its mouth is to combat galamsey.

He advocates for a genuine commitment and dedicated budgetary allocation to tackle the issue, rather than just paying lip service.Dr.

Steve Manteaw, shared his insights during a sideline interview at the Mining for Development Forum held in Tarkwa, organized by the Ghana Chamber of Mines.Dr Steve ManteawFor years, Ghana's economy has benefited significantly from mineral resource mining, contributing over $482 million to GDP in 2023 alone.However, illegal gold mining, commonly known as galamsey, has simultaneously wreaked havoc on the environment.This destructive practice has ravaged water bodies, forest reserves, cocoa farms, and the broader ecosystem.Despite government regulation through the Minerals Commission, data reveals a disturbing intensification of illegal mining activities over the past 12 years.The fight against galamsey in Ghana has been ongoing for years, but despite efforts by the president Akufo-Addo administration, the problem persists.