Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has argued that Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, will only succeed if it is led by empowered state institutions rather than politicians.

Speaking on Citi TV’s Eyewitness News on December 17, 2025, Dr Kokofu said years of placing politicians at the forefront of the anti-galamsey campaign have consistently produced poor results.

According to him, relying on political leadership to drive the fight has proven ineffective. He stressed that only strong, well-resourced state institutions with clear mandates can deliver lasting solutions.

Dr Kokofu referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s first term in office as the earliest major attempt by a sitting president to confront galamsey directly. However, he noted that the approach failed because politicians dominated the process, particularly through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.

He also reflected on the early years of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, acknowledging that some progress was made after 2017. However, he said those gains were later reversed, especially during the government’s second term, contributing to the administration’s eventual political decline.

Turning to the current administration, Dr Kokofu recalled President Mahama’s promises upon returning to office to adopt new strategies, including the use of technology and artificial intelligence, as well as his earlier call for a state of emergency to address galamsey. He lamented that more than a year into the administration, the problem has worsened rather than improved.

He further noted that the fight against galamsey has, for the first time, resulted in significant loss of life, including the deaths of ministers and other state officials, underscoring the gravity of the crisis.

Dr Kokofu attributed the continued failure to insufficient resourcing and weak empowerment of regulatory bodies. He identified the Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority as the key institutions that should be leading the fight.

He stressed that when these bodies are adequately resourced and coordinated, they possess the technical expertise and authority needed to effectively combat illegal mining.

Dr Kokofu concluded by cautioning against ongoing political interference, insisting that past and present experiences clearly show that a politically driven approach to fighting galamsey does not work.