Accra: Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, has urged the government to apply the 'polluter pays principle' in addressing the destruction caused by illegal mining, widely referred to as 'galamsey'. In a Facebook post dated February 24, 2026, Prof Prempeh emphasized that assets and funds retrieved from those responsible for illegal mining should be directed towards ecological restefforts.
According to Ghana Web, Prof Prempeh argued that the damage caused by 'galamsey' should be repaired using the resources recovered from those who have profited from it. He stressed that the government should not impose the financial burden on innocent citizens, especially when those responsible for the environmental damage remain unpunished and retain their ill-gotten gains.
Prof Prempeh further expressed his opposition to using taxpayers' money to restore degraded lands and polluted water bodies unless the state makes credible efforts to apprehend and prosecute the masterminds behind 'galamsey'. He called for new laws targeting the forfeiture and recovery of assets from these criminal networks, with the proceeds being used for ecological restoration.
He warned that Ghana cannot afford to continue depleting its forests and polluting its water bodies through illegal mining activities, only to depend on limited public funds for restoration. Prof Prempeh's remarks highlight the urgent need for accountability and sustainable environmental practices in addressing the 'galamsey' crisis.