A Senior Marketing lecturer at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Dr Samuel Afriyie, has sparked a national conversation by describing illegal mining, also known as galamsey, as a political party branch activity in Ghana.
He believes the strong ties between political parties and illegal mining operations have made the fight against environmental degradation nearly impossible.
According to Dr Samuel Afriyie, most political parties, during election campaigns, promise their supporters mining concessions if they win power.
This, he said, emboldens party loyalists to engage in illegal mining with impunity, believing they have political protection regardless of the environmental damage caused. "It's difficult for any government to genuinely end galamsey when the activity is deeply rooted in party support and campaign promises," Dr Afriyie said. "The fight against illegal mining is already compromised once it becomes politicized," he added, during a panel discussion on Otec FM's morning show 'Nyansapo' hosted by Kwaku Owusu Boateng, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
