Cadman Atta Mills, brother of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, has questioned the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, suggesting that economic interests are undermining the fight.
Speaking on Joy FM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Mr. Atta Mills said the administration appears “conflicted” in its approach, despite mounting public pressure for President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency over the crisis.
“I see, and maybe I am wrong, but I don’t think I am, that the government is a little conflicted in its fight against galamsey. It is not taking it seriously,” he said.
He argued that revenue flows from the illegal trade are being diverted into official foreign exchange channels, helping to stabilise the Ghanaian Cedi, which creates a dilemma for the government.
“The benefit that clearly the government is receiving, because they are diverting the foreign exchange that has gone into unofficial channels into the official channels, is doing a lot to stabilise the value of the Cedi. So that is one of the reasons why the government is a little bit conflicted about it (fight against galamsey),” he explained.
His remarks add to a wave of criticism from civil society groups and activists who insist that illegal mining has reached emergency levels, threatening water bodies, agriculture, and human lives.
‘It is killing us’: Cedi recovery not worth human cost of galamsey – Cadman Mills