Illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey, has evolved from an informal economic activity into one of Ghana’s most complex internal security challenges. Once viewed primarily as an environmental and economic problem, galamsey now poses significant threats to state stability, community safety and rule of law. Across several mining zones, violent gangs have emerged to assert territorial control, protect illegal operations and engage in criminal competition. These current events show the growing nexus between galamsey and organised violence, an evolution that demands urgent attention from the country’s security and intelligence institutions.
The Evolution of Galamsey into Organised Violence
Galamsey activities have long been associated with environmental degradation and revenue losses to the state. However, in recent years, the dynamics have changed. Illegal mining sites in regions such as Western, Ashanti, Eastern, and Central have become flashpoints for violent conflicts involving armed groups competing for control over gold-rich territories (Aubynn, 2023). These groups, often composed of unemployed youth and former miners, have evolved into local militias who use firearms and other weapons to protect their economic interests.
What began as disputes among miners has escalated into organised territorial battles, resembling gang conflicts over urban turf. Reports of shootings, armed robberies, and intimidation in galamsey communities indicate a steady militarization of illegal mining. In some areas, rival groups have gone as far as recruiting mercenaries and forming alliances with political patrons to secure their dominance.
Recent Incident and Public Reaction
In September 2025, a viral social media post captured a group of galamsey gang members ambushing and violently attacking a leader from a rival gang with machetes. The graphic nature of the video quickly gained widespread attention, sparking intense discussions across multiple social media platforms. Users on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook expressed their concern and alarm over the increasing danger posed by galamsey gangs, highlighting the escalating threat these groups represent to local communities and public safety.
“Brazen galamsey kingpin, Kwame Ato, infamous for his attack on a uniformed police officer some years ago was reportedly beaten to a pulp during a violent confrontation with a rival group earlier this weekend.
The incident comes in light of the growing influence of armed thugs, who are heavily involved in illegal mining operations and increasingly engage in violent clashes with rival groups.” – X user
“This is what Galamsey is breeding. If you go on TikTok you’ll be surprised the number of people brandishing weapons and charms. I fear it will end up the way the Mexican and Colombian cartels turned out” – X user
Drivers of Gang Formation in Galamsey Areas across Ghana
- Economic Deprivation and Unemployment
Rural poverty and limited livelihood options have driven thousands of young men into illegal mining. The promise of quick profits from gold extraction, coupled with the absence of sustainable employment, makes galamsey both a survival strategy and a path to status. As competition intensifies, groups form around control of concessions, creating fertile ground for gang recruitment. The illegal mining economy, which thrives on informality, incentivises violence as a tool for securing profit and protection.
- Political Protection and Patronage Networks
The intersection between politics and galamsey cannot be ignored. Various reports have revealed that some illegal mining operations are shielded by local political figures who provide protection in exchange for financial support or electoral influence (Frimpong, 2022). This relationship emboldens gang leaders and undermines the enforcement of anti-galamsey regulations. In certain districts, local “big men” act as financiers, supplying weapons and logistics to groups that protect their concessions. The result is a parallel authority structure where gangs, not the state, control resource zones.
- Competition for Territorial Control
Control over mining territories has become a lucrative form of power. Disputes over land and mineral rights frequently lead to clashes between rival groups, each seeking to dominate extraction sites and access to processing equipment. In areas like Obuasi, Dunkwa, and Tarkwa, reports of violent confrontations between gangs and local task forces have become common. These conflicts often spill over into nearby communities, leading to deaths, injuries, and mass displacements.
- Weak Law Enforcement and Corruption
The persistence of galamsey-related violence reflects the weakness of state institutions in enforcing mining regulations. Law enforcement operations are often compromised by corruption, logistical limitations, and political interference. In some cases, security personnel are accused of colluding with illegal miners or providing protection for financial gain. The absence of sustained law enforcement presence in remote mining zones has allowed armed groups to flourish unchecked.
The Security Dimensions of Galamsey
The proliferation of violent gangs in mining areas has far-reaching security consequences that extend beyond local disputes. The phenomenon has become a multi-layered security concern, involving crime, governance and regional stability.
- Internal Security and Crime Surge
Illegal mining zones have become hotspots for armed robbery, kidnapping, and violent assaults. Gangs involved in galamsey operations often engage in other criminal activities, including illicit arms trade and smuggling of refined gold through unapproved routes. The circulation of firearms among miners and their enforcers poses a direct threat to community safety and law enforcement. The escalation of violence also erodes public confidence in state authority and weakens the social contract between citizens and government.
- Intelligence and Organised Crime Concerns
From an intelligence perspective, the growing coordination among galamsey-linked gangs indicates the early stages of organised criminal networks forming around resource exploitation. These groups display traits of organised crime, including hierarchical command, territorial control, and financial backing. There is also emerging evidence of connections between local miners and transnational smugglers who move gold through Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire (Afriyie et al., 2021). Such linkages expand the threat from local criminality to transnational organised crime, complicating countermeasures and intelligence collection.
- Environmental and Community Security
The environmental devastation caused by galamsey compounds the security crisis. Polluted rivers, degraded farmlands, and displacement of communities heighten grievances and tensions. In many areas, local residents, frustrated by the destruction of their environment, clash with gangs or security operatives. This environmental insecurity fuels a cycle of resentment that gangs exploit to recruit more youth under the guise of “protecting” community interests.
- Regional Implications
The rise of violent groups around gold mining zones mirrors trends across parts of West Africa where resource-based criminality has evolved into armed insurgencies. While Ghana remains relatively stable, the convergence of illicit mining, arms trafficking, and organized gangs creates a potential security contagion risk. Cross-border criminal flows from neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire increase the likelihood of external influence in Ghana’s internal resource conflicts.
Policy and Intelligence Implications
To address the escalating security threat linked to galamsey, Ghana requires a multi-dimensional strategy that integrates law enforcement, intelligence, and socio-economic interventions.
- Strengthen Inter-Agency Coordination:
The fight against galamsey must involve coherent collaboration between the Ghana Police Service, National Security, the Minerals Commission, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Intelligence sharing across these agencies can improve the detection of armed groups as well as financiers operating within mining zones.
- Community-Level Intelligence and Policing:
Security presence in rural mining communities should be intelligence-led rather than reactive. Establishing community intelligence cells and encouraging local collaboration can help detect gang formation early. Empowering district security committees to monitor potential flashpoints will enhance situational awareness.
- Targeted Disarmament and Demobilization:
Special operations should focus on disarming gangs and retrieving illegal firearms in galamsey-prone areas. However, such efforts must be complemented by livelihood alternatives for affected youth to prevent re-engagement in violence.
- Accountability and Political Will:
The government must demonstrate impartial enforcement of anti-galamsey policies by prosecuting officials and financiers who sponsor illegal mining. Without visible accountability, enforcement will continue to be undermined.
- Socio-Economic Reintegration:
Providing alternative livelihoods, vocational training, and formalized small-scale mining options can reduce the dependency on illegal operations. Community development projects in mining zones should address the economic roots of the problem.
Conclusion
Galamsey has evolved from an environmental menace into a complex national security challenge. The rise of violent gangs in mining areas reflects a deeper erosion of state control and governance in resource-rich communities. If left unchecked, the criminalisation of illegal mining could foster organised violence that undermines peace and stability. Ghana’s response must therefore go beyond short-term enforcement to encompass intelligence-led operations, community engagement, and political accountability. The battle against galamsey is no longer just about saving rivers, it is about safeguarding the state itself.
References
- Afriyie, K., Ganle, J. K., & Adomako, J. (2021). The illegal artisanal and small-scale mining crisis in Ghana: Causes, impacts, and policy responses. Resources Policy, 70, 101926.
- Aubynn, A. (2023). Galamsey, governance, and violence: The changing face of Ghana’s informal mining sector. Journal of Modern African Studies, 61(2), 145–163.
- Frimpong, E. (2022). Political patronage and illegal mining in Ghana: An analysis of power and protection. African Affairs Review, 14(3), 58–72.
