Galamsey fight has been unsuccessful – Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana

The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, believes Ghana is struggling in its fight against illegal mining (galamsey) due to weak law enforcement.

In an interview on JoyNews' AM Show, Verheul highlighted that arrests rarely lead to long-term imprisonment, undermining efforts against illegal mining. He noted that increased gold production is happening mostly in the informal sector.

Verheul prefers to term it "small-scale illegal mining" rather than "galamsey," to avoid cultural connotations.

He expressed skepticism about curtailing the issue, suggesting that vested interests may hinder progress, despite the need for strong political will and enforcement capacity.