Stakeholders within the environmental sector have called for urgent, collective action to shield children and youth from the growing threat of illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.
The call was made during a high-level seminar organized by Compassion International Ghana (CIGH), held under the theme: "The Impact of Illegal Mining on Children and Youth Development in Ghana - The Role of Stakeholders." The event formed part of CIGH's Thriving Child Seminar Series, a quarterly dialogue platform focused on child and youth development.
Kobina Yeboah Okyere, National Director of Compassion International Ghana, stressed the need for a collaborative approach to tackling the menace of illegal mining and its devastating effects on children. "We know there have been many calls on government to take more proactive steps to address this issue, but it calls for a multi-stakeholder approach and intervention to ensure we're really tackling these issues head-on," he said on June 17, 2025.
Daryl Bosu, Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, highlighted the erosion of values in communities affected by illegal mining, stating that the growing acceptance of galamsey as a source of quick income-even among children-is dangerous. "Yes, people make money from it, but that does not justify glorifying an illegal act," he cautioned. "If we continue this way, societal collapse is inevitable.
