Context and Escalating Dispute
On October 5, 2025, the Ghanaian government faced renewed criticism from civil society organizations (CSOs) over the persistent environmental degradation caused by illegal small-scale gold mining (galamsey) across the country’s southern and western river basins. Despite intensified military operations and presidential pledges to halt pollution, CSOs argue that enforcement remains selective and that affected communities continue to suffer from toxic contamination of rivers such as the Pra, Offin, and Ankobra. The confrontation has evolved beyond an environmental issue into a crisis of governance and accountability, with CSOs accusing authorities of political interference, regulatory inconsistency, and weak transparency in mining oversight.
Stakeholder Dialogue and Demands for Reform
In response to mounting public pressure, the government convened a national dialogue on October 3 bringing together policymakers, mining associations, chiefs, and environmental groups. Civil society representatives used the forum to demand independent water quality monitoring, stricter licensing procedures, and community participation in environmental audits. They also called for disclosure of concession ownership, alleging that politically connected actors are shielding illegal operations behind shell companies. The government reaffirmed its commitment to reform through the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), but CSOs remain skeptical, insisting that without genuine decentralization of enforcement, river systems and livelihoods will remain at risk.
Governance Implications and License to Operate Challenges
The ongoing standoff highlights the fragility of Ghana’s License to Operate (LTO) in the gold sector, where social legitimacy and ecological sustainability are increasingly intertwined. Analysts warn that sustained pollution could jeopardize export credibility under emerging global due diligence and traceability regimes, including the EU’s forthcoming Critical Raw Materials Act. For Ghana, restoring trust requires moving beyond crisis management toward institutionalized environmental governance—anchored in transparency, participatory decision-making, and equitable benefit-sharing. The current dialogue thus represents a critical opportunity to transform confrontation into collaboration, redefining what responsible mining governance looks like in one of Africa’s most resource-dependent democracies.