The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has expressed concern that food security is becoming one of the most alarming threats in Ghana.

GAWU attributes this to multiple challenges, particularly the galamsey (illegal mining) issue, which has severely impacted agriculture. Despite this, the state has made little effort to address the problem.

In a press release signed by its General Secretary, Andrews Addo Quaye Tagoe, GAWU noted that illegal mining poses a significant threat to agriculture, leading to food scarcity and rising prices.

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It added that this situation has far-reaching consequences, including worsening climate change, negative health effects on the population, and potential harm to future generations.

“With over seven thousand four hundred and seventy (7,470) clusters of galamsey in the country, according to ResearchGate, galamsey has led to the destruction of farmlands and water bodies, exposing many informal workers to job and income insecurities across the country. Ghana has lost about 2.5 million hectares of forest reserves to illegal and uncontrolled mining, which poses a significant threat to biodiversity.

“Galamsey remains an extremely dangerous and treacherous form of illegal mining that has forced many farmers to give up their farmlands, either through coercion or out of frustration with the lack of effective systems and structures to combat it. The negative impact of illegal and uncontrolled mining on cocoa production is unprecedented.

“The environmental effects of galamsey have far-reaching consequences on ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources. Vegetation is stripped away along with the topsoil, leading to crop loss and creating unfavourable micro-climatic conditions for cocoa cultivation. This degradation of natural resources undermines the potential for sustainable economic growth, particularly in sectors dependent on a healthy environment, such as agriculture and forestry."

The press release asserted that in nearly every rural household in Ghana, cocoa or oil palm are the primary cash crops cultivated.

However, it noted that Ghana's current position in cocoa and oil palm production is disappointing, not due to a lack of capability, but because of the encroachment of illegal mining (galamsey).

It further added that many farmers have been forced to abandon their farms to make way for galamsey activities in key cocoa and oil palm-producing areas.

The release further stated that more than 100,000 acres of cocoa farms and over 30,000 acres of oil palm plantations have already been destroyed.

“The few farmers who are making sacrifices to produce food for both local consumption and export must also contend with challenges related to irrigation, as water bodies remain polluted and unsafe for crop exposure.
The prevalence of illegal mining activities in Ghana has undermined investor and market confidence in the agriculture sector. This issue has also affected the oil palm and rubber sub-sectors, resulting in lower prices on the international market and causing Ghana to miss out on foreign direct investment, which plays a crucial role in driving economic growth. Additionally, Ghana loses about USD 2.3 billion annually due to illegal and uncontrolled mining through gold smuggling, and over USD 2 billion from the loss of cocoa farms.”

The press release emphasised that illegal mining does not only harm the economy by reducing agricultural production, but also poses significant health and safety risks to Ghanaians.

It added that farms are exposed to harmful chemicals used to pollute water bodies.

It further noted that these threats could negatively impact women's fertility, their unborn children, and the health of babies being breastfed by lactating mothers.

“As the country clamours to create more jobs for the youth, and with several policy interventions in place to boost agriculture in Ghana, such as Planting for Food and Jobs and Youth in Agriculture, we risk making the sector redundant and unattractive if farmers and plantations continue to face land grabbing and forced removal from their lands.

Looking on without action from the government means Ghana risks an increase in the unemployment rate, health and safety challenges for citizens and communities, food insecurity, and the loss of livelihoods for many vulnerable groups and individuals.”

GAWU, along with Organized Labour and other civil society organizations, called on the government to declare a state of emergency to address the galamsey crisis and urged immediate government action.

They also called on the President of the Republic to take swift action to protect the remaining lands, air, water bodies, and human lives without further delay.

“Government must prioritize the reclamation of destroyed lands and the restoration of polluted water bodies and immediately revoke LI 2462.
Arrest and prosecute individuals or groups responsible for destroying cocoa farms, oil palm plantations, and other agricultural lands for the purpose of galamsey.
"Government should support and invest in alternative livelihoods that provide sustainable employment opportunities, particularly in agriculture.
We call on all agricultural establishments and civil society organizations in the agricultural value chain to join the fight against this menace.”