Galamsey profits flow to China while Ghana suffers – Bishop J.Y. Adu

In a recent appearance on Kingdom FM, Bishop J.Y. Adu, the founder and leader of New Jerusalem Chapel (NJC) in Kumasi, shared his concerns about Ghana’s ongoing fight against galamsey.

His remarks, monitored by MyNewsGh.com, shed light on the role of foreign interests, particularly Chinese nationals, in profiting from the controversial sector.

During the interview, Bishop Adu did not hold back in pointing out that the real beneficiaries of galamsey operations in Ghana are predominantly Chinese miners.

According to him, these individuals operate illegally with advanced, sophisticated machinery, which allows them to extract vast amounts of gold and other minerals, all while the country’s environmental resources are being depleted.

“They have been allowed to work freely, employing high-end technology, which helps them extract these minerals quickly and efficiently,” the veteran clergyman emphasized.

He further noted that the significant profits generated by these illegal operations are seldom reinvested in Ghana.

Instead, the majority of the earnings are transferred back to China, leaving Ghana to bear the brunt of the environmental damage.

Bishop Adu also described the lavish lifestyle led by some of these foreign miners.

“These Chinese nationals often reserve entire hotels during their operations, living in luxury while they extract our resources,” he added.

This image starkly contrasts with the plight of the locals who live in galamsey-affected areas, where water bodies are contaminated, and land degradation is rampant.

A particularly worrying aspect highlighted by Bishop Adu is the involvement of local farmers.

In areas where galamsey thrives, farmers, faced with the temptation of quick financial gain, often sell their lands to foreign miners.

While this might bring immediate relief to these farmers, the long-term consequences—such as loss of fertile land and ecological destruction—are far more detrimental.

Towards the end of the interview, Bishop Adu delivered a powerful message about the future of the sector.

He stated that if galamsey were properly regulated, it could become a significant revenue stream for Ghana.

“We wouldn’t need to depend on loans from the IMF if we managed the resources from this sector effectively,” he remarked.

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