Ghanaian statesman and former military officer, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has asserted that the Ghanaian military is fully capable of eradicating the illegal mining crisis, commonly known as *galamsey*, within a week—if not for political interference.
This statement comes as discussions around illegal mining and its destructive effects have resurfaced, spurred by the recent JoyNews documentary titled *Poisoned Rivers*, which exposes the alarming extent of river pollution caused by galamsey activities. A separate report from *The Fourth Estate* has also revealed that some government officials and politically exposed individuals are seeking permits to mine within Ghana’s forest reserves, including protected areas.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has further sounded the alarm, revealing it is struggling to treat water for many communities due to the contamination of rivers used for water distribution. The GWCL and other stakeholders have warned that if the galamsey crisis is not addressed, Ghana may soon face the need to import water on a large scale.
During an appearance on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 9, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe attributed the failure to combat galamsey to weak political leadership, particularly under the current administration. He emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces, under normal circumstances, would have already resolved the issue, but their hands are tied due to high political interests in illegal mining.
This comment was in response to a suggestion from the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company that the fight against galamsey should be placed under the direct supervision of the Chief of Defense Staff, allowing the military to take charge.
“I agree entirely. The military has leadership, and if they’re given that task without the influence of politicians, I can assure you they will finish this within one week. If they’re told this is the task—stop it—I can assure you within one week they will stop it. But where you have leaders within the political parties and the groupings using a section of the military, it becomes difficult,” Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe stated.
He continued: “The military has changed, just like politics in this country. It has changed. Politics, at least the one that I saw, we had leaders with integrity. We don’t have them now. You had politicians who had feelings for the ordinary person; we don’t have them now. The leadership we have in politics now are leaders who come to steal—physical stealing. The same with the military. In the military years back, when they were given a task, you could be sure they would do it.”
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe attributed the deterioration of the military’s effectiveness to political interference, particularly through the widespread practice of protocol recruitment, which prioritizes political connections over merit.
“The military itself has been so politicized now. When we’re recruiting people into the army now, it has become a protocol list. It never existed when I was in the army. The military gave directives, and recruitment was done in every region of the country. The so-called protocol list has totally destroyed the security service in this country, and we’re all sitting down looking,” he lamented.
