On the GhanAkoma Show with Sir John, former illegal miner Chris exposed the harsh realities of illegal mining, or galamsey, in Ghana. Speaking from firsthand experience, Chris detailed the environmental destruction, human suffering, and dangerous rituals that define the illicit mining industry.
Having worked as a miner since 2011, Chris described how miners source clean water for their operations while polluting rivers with waste. “There are no mining companies that don’t destroy our water bodies,” he said, stressing that both legal and illegal operations are at fault. However, he noted that “Ghetto mining” is the only form that doesn’t harm land or water.
Despite years of hard work, Chris admitted that he earned little and faced immense hardships. “I decided to stop because I’ve been working for years but don’t get anything from it,” he said. He revealed dangerous initiation rituals, explaining, “They baptize us with the gala water… So we can’t stop the galamsey job. We only work for the sponsors, not for ourselves.”
Life at galamsey sites is grueling, with food costs high and miners earning as little as 300 cedis daily. To cope, workers rely on energy drinks and drugs, often supplied on credit by their bosses. “I can’t remember saving anything since,” Chris lamented.
The dangers of the job go beyond financial hardship. Chris has witnessed over 60 deaths at mining sites, many tied to the hazardous conditions and rituals. He also shared how the job strains marriages, revealing that a visit to his wife, where they couldn’t find potable water, prompted him to rethink his involvement.
In a damning statement, Chris confirmed political involvement in galamsey, highlighting the complexity of the issue, with economic hardship leaving many workers trapped in the dangerous practice.
