Ghana has for a long time been seen as an oasis of peace within a region, characterized by strife, coups and organised crime. Since 1992, the country has held successful elections, making it an example in democratic governance. This enviable record is, however, being undermined by an emerging trend that seeks to shroud criminality and the operations of criminal gangs in political colours and thereby gain some form of legitimacy for their actions. This is particularly concerning, given the challenges some West African nations, particularly Nigeria has faced in dealing with organised crime that later metamorphosed into terror groups.
Some of the key areas in which instances of criminal activities seek legitimacy within the cloak of political affiliation include the following;
- Illegal Mining (“Galamsey”) and Political Connections
Illegal gold mining, locally known as “galamsey,” has burgeoned into a significant industry in the country, attracting numerous individuals and criminal groups. This sector operates largely outside regulatory frameworks, leading to environmental degradation and substantial economic losses. The informal nature of galamsey contributes to the proliferation of organized crime, with reports of illegal miners engaging in violent confrontations with security forces. CISA intelligence gathering has indicated that the bigwigs in the industry are usually far away from the actual degradation of the environment in search of precious metals. However, they are connected to political power in ways that ensures that their sites are spared in the routine ‘search and close down’ operations which occur when the citizenry demand action.
Indeed the galamsey industry’s vastness and profitability have fostered connections with political figures. These relationships often manifest through political figures turning a blind eye to illegal mining activities in exchange for financial support or votes, creating a complex web of political and criminal interests. Despite governmental crackdowns, such as Operation Vanguard, which deployed military personnel to combat illegal mining, enforcement remains challenging due to entrenched political and economic interests. There have been instances where the names of political party executives have been mentioned as active illegal miners. However as is always the case, nothing is done and no big galamseyer has to date been jailed. Quite clearly, galamsey funds politics.
Galamsey has also attained international dimensions with the Chinese being the biggest identifiable group operating illegal mining concessions in some of Ghana’s deep forests. This group, it is alleged, are brought in by key business figures with political connections to mine, sometimes on river bodies leading to pollution.
- Organized Violence and Political Implications
Ghana has experienced instances where organized violence intersects with political interests. In the case of elections in the country, there have been instances where violence has been condoned with little action from the police to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. According to a report by the West African Network for Peacebuilding ‘Political vigilantism was one of the most frightening issue in the buildup to the 2020 elections especially following the political violence that characterized the January 31, 2019 parliamentary by-elections in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency (AWW). The gun violence and the bloodbath that marred the AWW elections forced the NDC to pull out of the by-elections citing security of its candidate and supporters. WANEP situational update on the AWW by-elections suggested that eighteen (18) people were injured through gunshots.’ This reality has not changed and the 2024 elections saw not only violence in some area, but significant violence by members of the winning party which still continues in some areas today.
- Gang Activities and Political Connections
Political activities bordering on gangsterism has been reported across the country. This notwithstanding, Nima and Maamobi, collectively known as the Nima-Mamobi area, have experienced recurrent gang-related violence. In January 2022, clashes between rival groups—the “Bombom” group led by Ali Awudu and the “Kumodzi” group led by Ibrahim Hussain—resulted in injuries and public disturbances. The Ghana Police Service intervened, arresting several individuals, including the gang leaders, and offering a GH₵20,000 reward for information leading to their capture.
While direct evidence of explicit political affiliations with these gangs is limited, the persistent violence has raised concerns about possible indirect connections. Indeed, police officers have stated that they are intimidated by members of these groups who flaunt brazenly, their membership of the two main political parties, the NDC and NPP. Some analysts have suggested that these gangs operate more or less as a market where the political parties willing to pay high fees obtain their services. The existence of such gangs further indicates the vulnerability of their members and the nascent danger they present for recruitment by extremist elements.
- Election Related Violence
Election related violence has become very common in Ghana, with little or no retribution for perpetrators of such violence. The past history of elections in Ghana is replete with such activities. However the most recent examples include the disruption of the Ashanti regional election of a member of the Council of State. The disruption of the process by ‘macho men’ led to the suspension of the counting. What is surprising is the inability of the police to arrest and prosecute persons responsible. The fact that the key personalities for the election were members of the two main political parties probably accounts for the violence which ensued. Other examples, which included a report by the Centre for Democratic Governance and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding highlighted fatalities that occurred during the 2024 elections. The report added that about 46 individuals sustained injuries with extensive property damage, destruction of ballot papers and burning of Electoral Commission offices in Damango and Ayensuano constituencies amidst widespread vandalism (see https://www.agtvgh.com/news/).
The Way Forward
While these forms of behaviour have always accompanied elections, the increasingly regularity and brazen nature of these forms of behaviour and the lack of appropriate action against the perpetrators is deeply concerning. It is averred that even public servants, including intelligence officers are not spared attacks by political hooligans. Former public officials have suffered from extortionist groups on motorcycles making unjustifiable demands. The situation is reaching a tipping point where citizens would take the law into their own hands if nothing concrete is done.
CISA recommends the following for consideration and implementation. This is also in recognition of the fact that this phenomenon seems to be a practice that is known across West Africa. It is important that crime never has a seat at the political table or indeed, at any other table within the boundaries of a democratic state.
- Strengthen cooperation within the key security and intelligence organsiations – Quite clearly, no single institution can fight this menace alone. We must enhance intelligence-sharing and build stronger collaborative frameworks across the intelligence agencies and build solid databases on groups and individuals prone to such criminal activities.
- Improve governance gaps in security and intelligence institutions – Political parties have over the years weakened institutions such as the security and intelligence services by intimidating officials and abrupt removal of security heads. As a result, the service has been characterized by fear of the political class and intimated by linkages to parties in office. Weak institutions create the perfect environment for crime to be politicized. Strengthening our legal frameworks and ensuring political accountability is crucial.
- Leveraging technology and cybersecurity measures – The digital battlefield is expanding. It is important to make use of AI to identify and track these criminals. It is possible for instance to know which phone numbers have been active in an area and to activate real time and intelligence driven monitoring to track and arrest such criminals.
- Breaking the cycle of public perception of criminals as heroes – There is the need to challenge the growing normalization of criminal figures as “heroes” in society. Public education, media engagement, and community-driven interventions are vital in reshaping this narrative.
- Building a relationship with Intelligence Organisations – The challenge of ensuring a safe society in which truth, honesty and development occurs is a collective effort. In many instances, governments have tendered to do this without seeking support from think tanks and the private security sector. This must change.
The interplay between criminal gangs and politics in Ghana presents significant challenges, necessitating comprehensive strategies that address both the symptoms and root causes of these intertwined issues. The time for action is now. If we miss the opportunity, we risk entrenching a behavioural pattern that the younger generation would tend to see as normal and acceptable. This must change and change now. This is how some groups such as Boko Haram begun and Ghana needs to be careful.
