Netherlands Ambassador wades into Ghana’s galamsey fight 

Story: News Desk 

The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, has observed that Ghana appears to be losing its fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey.

According to him, this is due to the lack of enforcement of laws surrounding the activity.

“… There is not a lot of success in combating illegal mining, and if I speak to organisations that are forcefully opposing illegal mining, they tell me it is very difficult to get enforcement. For example, if the police act and arrest somebody, that person is often out of prison very soon”, he said. 

Mr Verheul disclosed his observation during an JoyNews .

Mr. Verheul noted that although gold production had increased significantly, this growth was  occurring in the informal sector rather than the formal sector.

He further mentioned that he avoided  using the term “galamsey” because it implies something cultural or uniquely African, which he believed  was  inaccurate.

According to him, he preferred  to describe it as small-scale illegal mining.

To address the menace, the NetherlandsAmbassador to Ghana said it required substantial effort.

However, he doubted  the menace could  be curtailed.

According to him, some parties likely benefit from illegal mining and therefore have an interest in its continuation.

“I do not have the knowledge and expertise to indicate who those parties might be, but if there was a general political will and if there was an enforcement capacity, then Ghana would be able to solve this issue, but it is not happening”.

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