The Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Air Vice Marshal David Anetey Akrong, has cautioned that illegal mining in Ghana is increasingly developing into a serious security concern, warning that its impact now extends far beyond environmental degradation.
Addressing participants at the Ashanti Regional Validation and Dialogue Workshop on the Safety and Security Ecosystem of Illegal Mining held in Kumasi, the Commandant explained that recent research and community engagements indicate that the activities of illegal miners are beginning to influence local power dynamics and governance structures in several mining communities.
He noted that findings from field engagements across parts of the Ashanti Region show that illegal mining operations are increasingly shaping the way land and economic opportunities are controlled. In certain areas, he said, informal authority networks linked to mining activities are emerging and sometimes functioning alongside established state institutions.
According to him, such developments have the potential to erode public trust in regulatory systems and complicate the work of institutions tasked with maintaining security and enforcing mining regulations.
Air Vice Marshal Akrong also pointed to economic hardship, particularly youth unemployment, as a major factor sustaining the growth of illegal mining. He explained that many communities are caught between the need for short-term economic opportunities and the long-term consequences of environmental damage and social disruption.
Beyond governance concerns, the KAIPTC Commandant warned of emerging security risks around some mining sites, including the reported presence of illegal or improvised weapons. In certain instances, he said, individuals and groups involved in illegal mining adopt aggressive security measures to protect access to mining areas and financial gains.
Such developments, he indicated, not only heighten tensions within mining communities but also expose both residents and security personnel to increased danger, while creating possible links between illegal mining operations and broader criminal networks.
The workshop, organised by KAIPTC with support from the Embassy of Spain in Ghana, brought together representatives from security agencies, regulatory bodies, traditional authorities, civil society groups, the media and community leaders to examine the safety and security implications of illegal mining.
Deputy Ambassador of Spain to Ghana, Isabel Escarlata Ibarra Serrano de Haro, observed that illegal mining activities are often connected to wider criminal economies. She noted that issues such as human trafficking, forced labour, arms proliferation and illicit financial flows have been identified within some mining environments.
She stressed that addressing illegal mining requires a broader perspective that considers governance, security and human rights implications, particularly as vulnerable groups such as women and girls are frequently exposed to exploitation in such settings.
Also speaking at the event, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, Amoh Kamel, representing the Ashanti Regional Minister, described illegal mining as a threat that continues to destroy farmlands and pollute critical water sources.
He emphasised the importance of involving metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in efforts to address the challenge, noting that local authorities are best positioned to work closely with affected communities.
Discussions and recommendations from the Kumasi workshop are expected to inform a national policy dialogue scheduled to take place in Accra in the coming weeks, where stakeholders will consider policy options aimed at improving coordination, strengthening governance and promoting responsible resource management within Ghana’s mining sector.