Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illicit Mining, has expressed concern about Ghana's leadership and the disastrous consequences of illicit mining (galamsey) on the future of the nation.

He cautioned that the unregulated development of galamsey poses a threat to Ghana's socioeconomic stability in addition to being an environmental disaster in an interview on Keypoints on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

Frimpong-Boateng emphasized how galamsey, which he referred to as "daily earthquakes," have destroyed the ecology in the impacted areas. Rivers, which were previously essential for irrigation and drinking water, are now completely unusable due to extreme pollution. He cited the Ghana Water Company's battle to provide drinkable water as an obvious illustration of the problem. "A catastrophic future, including widespread hunger and environmental collapse, is being set in motion by the destruction of water bodies, farmlands, forests, and biodiversity," he bemoaned.

Frimpong-Boateng, who drew inspiration from international leaders like Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, who revolutionized his country through science and technology, lamented that Ghana has not made the same strides in spite of its wealth in resources like water, gold, and cocoa. “Leadership is supposed to ensure the survival of the people and meet basic needs,” he said, attributing this to leadership failures.

Frimpong-Boateng was especially critical of previous government initiatives, such the military-led Operation Vanguard, to stop galamsey. He maintained that these interventions had not worked and cautioned that military participation in such operations might compromise the credibility of the Ghanaian military. “This is not a job for the military,” he said, advocating for a more sustainable, long-term approach to tackle unlawful mining.

Looking ahead, the outgoing Environment, Science, and Technology Minister urged the incoming government to prioritize the fight against galamsey. He underlined how urgent it is to enact strong laws in order to protect the environment and ensure a brighter future for coming generations. He cautioned, "We are ensuring a dismal future for the next generation if we do not take action now."

Frimpong-Boateng stated that he is willing to counsel future presidents if they show a sincere commitment to addressing the Galamsey situation, even if he is cautiously optimistic about the likelihood of meaningful change. He did not, however, address contentious projects such as the National Cathedral, instead emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and environmental conservation.

The need for aggressive leadership in tackling galamsey and environmental degradation is more pressing than ever as Ghana gets closer to the 2024 elections.