Professor Appiagyei-Atua Says Ghana Is Winning Financial War but Losing Environmental Battle

According to JoyNews on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, a Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Ghana School of Law, has raised concerns about Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme, the professor acknowledged the contribution of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to the country’s financial and economic efforts. However, he argued that the progress being made in the gold sector should not overshadow the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.

According to him, GoldBod is helping Ghana improve its gold trade and generate revenue, but the country continues to face serious challenges in protecting its water bodies and natural environment.

He explained that although the government has introduced measures to address illegal mining, the environmental consequences remain worrying. He therefore believes that the success of the fight against galamsey should not be judged only by financial gains.

“While GoldBod may be making some impact in terms of revenue positives and ensuring that the cedi is stabilised and so on, we can say we are winning the financial war in some respects, but we are losing the environmental war,” he stated.

Professor Appiagyei-Atua also referred to figures from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which reportedly indicate that about 60 per cent of Ghana’s water bodies are polluted.

He warned that the pollution of rivers and other water sources creates additional challenges for water treatment companies. He further cited estimates from Ghana Water Limited suggesting that a significant amount of water is lost during the treatment process because of the level of pollution.

The professor also expressed concern about the possible effects of illegal mining on public health. He referred to research involving more than 40,000 placental samples being analysed by researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

His comments highlight the wider consequences of galamsey, particularly the potential risks posed to communities that depend on rivers and other natural water sources.

He acknowledged some government interventions, including efforts to remove illegal miners, reclaim degraded lands and address mining activities in forest reserves. However, he maintained that more evidence of environmental improvement is needed before the country can confidently claim victory in the fight.

Professor Appiagyei-Atua’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the need to balance the economic benefits of gold trading with the protection of Ghana’s environment.

His central argument is that improving foreign exchange earnings and stabilising the cedi are important, but these achievements cannot replace the need to restore polluted rivers, protect communities and prevent further destruction of the country’s natural resources. 

Adenews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com