An illegal miner (galamseyer) has send a stern warning to anti-galamsey task force members, as the government intensifies efforts to tackle the operations of illegal miners.
According to the galamseyer, if the anti-galamsey task force members come in the day, they will come at night to work.
The galamseyer even threatened to kill members of the anti-galamsey task force who tried to stop them.
In the viral video, the illegal miner stated, “What we learnt is what we are doing. If you come in the day, we’ll come at night. You are not serious, and if you joke, we will even kill you in the water. The job, unless we go into retirement. We are never going to stop, Insha Allah”.
Also, a brother of the late President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, Cadman Atta-Mills, has said illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is killing Ghanaians.
Cadman Atta Mills criticised the John Mahama-led NDC government over their poor handling of illegal mining.
According to Cadman Atta-Mills, he refuses to pay for the accolades the government is receiving for the cedi recovery at the expense of his health or life.
In a post on X, accompanied by a video of the galamsey menace, Cadman Mills wrote, “I refuse to pay for the accolades President Mahama and the NDC are receiving for the cedi’s recovery with my health or life.
Call it galamsey or ‘legal’ small-scale mining (when bankrolled by the politically connected). It is killing us. #StopGalamseyNow”, he added.
However, President Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, stated he was exploring all available alternatives in the fight against galamsey before considering declaring a state of emergency.
President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.
According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.
He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.
Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.
John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.
“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.
“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.
Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has said that Ghana’s gold could be blacklisted as blood gold.
Joe Jackson noted that if the world realises Ghana is not selling sustainable gold, the country could be blacklisted.
According to him, Goldbod, which was set up as a game changer, could fail if the Mahama government does not tackle illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, with the necessary urgency.
Speaking on TV3’s “The Key Points” on September 13, 2025, Joe Jackson explained, “If the rest of the world decides that we are selling gold that is not sustainable, we could be blacklisted. Gold board, which is supposed to be the game changer, could disappear simply because we have not tackled galamsey, and we are now blacklisted as selling unsustainable or, blood gold”.
“In the same way… It will not be only gold. Very soon, we may not be able to export certain food items. You will not be able to export cocoa. If you can’t export it because the heavy metals from illegal mining are leaking into the water bodies, it will greatly impact our economy and erode all successes the government has chalked in other sectors,” he added.
Mr Jackson further cited the Ghana Water Limited’s (GWL) request for a 280% tariff increase, and also pointed to the galamsey impact on the supply of water to Tema residents.
Joe Jackson lamented, “I live in Tema. Tema used to be the best place for utilities. Now, if you get three days’ water running through your pipes in a week, then it’s looking good for us. This is in the rainy season. I dare to think of what will happen in the dry season, and you find similar experiences all over. That’s the situation for water”.
Watch the video below:
“If you come in the day, we’ll come at night and if you joke, we will even kill you”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) September 11, 2025
—Illegal miner sends a stern warning to anti-galamsey task force members, as government intensifies efforts to tackle the operations of illegal miners. pic.twitter.com/AguAoikvNv

