Government’s negligence fueling underdevelopment in resource-rich areas- Lawyer

Legal Practitioner Richard Kojo Abban has voiced serious concerns about the devastating effects of illegal mining, accusing the government of gross negligence and failing to address the underdevelopment in regions rich in natural resources.

In an interview with Afia Pokua, popularly known as Vim Lady, Mr. Abban argued, “Over 10 percent of the revenue generated from resource extraction should be allocated for the development of the areas affected.”

He condemned the Minerals Commission for not living up to its core responsibilities, stating, “The unrest surrounding illegal mining and other resource-related issues is because the Mineral Commission has failed to do its job.”

Mr. Abban also lamented the consequences of illegal mining, pointing out that communities whose lands have been destroyed can no longer use them productively.

“Lands that could have been used to cultivate cash crops and other agricultural products are now wasted,” he said.

He added that poverty has surged in these regions, as locals struggle to utilize their degraded lands, further exacerbating the galamsey crisis. “The rise in poverty is directly tied to the inability of people to farm or use their land effectively,” Abban explained.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Abban called for government intervention, suggesting that “regions involved in both small and large-scale mining, as well as other resource-extracting areas, need adequate support and job creation initiatives to reduce the impact of illegal mining.”

Galamsey is a local Ghanaian term that refers to illegal small-scale gold mining.

The term is derived from the phrase “gather them and sell,” which reflects the informal and unregulated nature of these mining activities.

 Although small-scale mining is legal in Ghana under proper licenses, galamsey activities occur outside the formal regulatory framework, often causing severe environmental, economic, and social consequences.

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