Special Prosecutor’s Office to investigate high-level corruption behind galamsey’s environmental crisis.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has recently made an important announcement regarding the initiation of a thorough investigation into suspected corruption linked to illegal small-scale mining activities, commonly known as “galamsey.” This decision was prompted by growing concerns surrounding the significant environmental harm caused by unregulated mining practices, particularly the adverse impact on Ghana’s water bodies. The widespread devastation resulting from galamsey has led various civil society organizations and labor unions to call for urgent government intervention, advocating for a state of emergency declaration in the regions most severely affected by illigal mining activities.
During a recent conference in Accra focusing on evaluating Ghana’s Beneficial Ownership regime, Samuel Appiah Darko, the Director of Research and Communication at the OSP, provided insights into the scope of the investigation. He highlighted that the probe would not only identify surface-level violations of mining regulations but also delve into the underlying corruption issues that have facilitated the increase in illegal mining operations. Mr. Darko emphasized the investigation’s focus on examining the roles of influential individuals and groups involved in either enabling or benefiting from illegal mining practices.
This approach aims to uncover the complex networks contributing to the persistence of galamsey despite existing regulatory frameworks. The OSP has emphasised its dedication to addressing not just the legal violations associated with mining but also the systemic corruption deeply entrenched in the industry. Mr. Darko emphasized, “We are doing our investigation into illegal mining separately from the semplicità of somebody has mined without a licence…Those are for police to be dealing with.”
“Ours take a bit of time because we need to be going round to be sure that money exchanged hands before the person going into the field,” he stated.
