Speaking in a recent interview, the academic and Ghana Shippers Authority CEO highlighted his continued frustration with the country’s slow response to the environmental and health risks posed by illegal mining.
“This galamsey thing, it’s too drastic a situation. Maybe we should allow all of us to start falling ill, maybe allow all of us to start dying,” he said, revealing the dire consequences of inaction.
Gyampo has long been outspoken about the devastating effects of galamsey on Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and local communities.
However, he notes that previous attempts to raise concern were often undermined, even from within the ranks of civil society.
According to him, internal sabotage was a real challenge. “They went their own way to sponsor some of our own members to form splinter groups,” he stated.
What’s changed now, Gyampo explains, is his ability to gauge how the public and political actors respond to his advocacy. “The difference now is that I can measure the body language, judge the response, and see the reception,” he said.
While Gyampo clarified that his comments are not a personal attack on former President Mahama or a dismissal of any government’s effort, he stressed the urgency of a more coordinated and sincere approach to solving the galamsey crisis.