Illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey, continues to surge across Ghana, driven by high unemployment and a struggling economy.
While thousands turn to mining for quick income, environmental experts warn it is devastating rivers and forests.
The Ankobra River, once a vital source of water and food, now flows grey and murky, poisoned with cyanide and mercury, threatening livelihoods and wildlife alike.
In the Western North Region, the community of Jema has mounted a determined fight against galamsey.
With a population of about 15,000, Jema banned all mining on its land in 2015 under customary law, empowering local chiefs to enforce the ban.
A 14-member task force, the Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocacy (JAGA), now patrols the 450-square-kilometer Jema Forest Reserve, monitoring waterways for signs of illegal mining such as discolored water and cleared forest areas.
Suspects are apprehended and handed to police, in line with citizen arrest laws.
Local Catholic priest Joseph Kwame Blay helped establish the task force, emphasizing that the campaign has become a community legacy. “Jema, no galamsey” is now the town’s rallying cry.
JAGA president Patrick Fome admits the work is dangerous, with members facing threats from those who depend on illegal mining for income.
Yet, the group points to cleaner waterways and restored forest areas as evidence of their impact.
Not all residents support the vigilante approach. Many youth, facing nearly 39% unemployment and declining farm profits, see illegal mining as one of the few viable options.
Nationally, illegal miners operate in 44 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, and the country has lost over $11 billion to gold smuggling in the past five years, according to Swissaid.
Local leaders acknowledge that without alternative livelihoods, enforcement could falter.
They are calling for investment in jobs that provide sustainable income, reducing the appeal of galamsey.
President John Mahama, who assumed office in January, has launched a national task force to tackle illegal mining.
While he has rejected calls for a state of emergency, he insists the government will exhaust all available measures to protect Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
In Jema, the fight continues, showing that community action, vigilance, and resolve can make a tangible difference in the battle against illegal mining.
