Veteran broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi has voiced serious concerns about the growing security threat posed by illegal miners, commonly known as galamseyers, warning that the country is on the brink of witnessing these groups evolve into a rebel armed force.
The issue of illegal mining and its devastating effects has resurfaced following an announcement by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Central Region. The company revealed that water supply challenges in Cape Coast, Elmina, and nearby communities are due to a significant shortfall in raw water at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP), a situation caused by galamsey activities.
In response to the water crisis, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, disclosed that the government would soon deploy law enforcement agencies to curb illegal mining activities, particularly in the Central Region.
“We are going to review the situation today, and I’m 1,000% certain that we will deploy. We are ramping up our enforcement measures. All these areas you’re concerned about will see a cleanup. We are going to conduct a complete sweep, especially in the Central Region. You can be assured of that and monitor the progress,” Jinapor stated.
However, during a discussion on Peace FM, monitored by GhanaWeb on Thursday, September 8, 2024, Kwame Sefa Kayi, who holds an Executive Master of Arts in Conflict, Peace & Security (EMCPS) from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), expressed his fear that the country’s failure to effectively tackle the galamsey menace is leading to the formation of a potential rebel force.
“You know what I fear? We are creating a rebel armed force. We are turning galamseyers into rebels. Imagine four hundred people armed with a hundred guns—these galamseyers are already equipped. Bit by bit, they could turn into what’s known as a ragtag army—untrained soldiers who know how to fire weapons.
If they decide to block the Accra-Kumasi highway, they could do so with ease. That’s the security problem we face. I have a keen interest in security matters, and I’m deeply concerned. If about 300 galamseyers decided to block that crucial road, what could we do? By the time security forces are deployed, they would have completed their operation,” Sefa Kayi remarked.