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Overview of Galamsey and Environmental Destruction in Ghana
Multimodal and Networked Rhetoric as Drivers of Participation in Digital Environmental Activism
Analysis: Multimodal Strategies and Social Media Amplification
Example 1: The Polluted River Bodies–A Multimodal Call to Action
Cultural Authority and Moral Legitimacy: The Asantehene’s Intervention
Overview of Galamsey and Environmental Destruction in Ghana
Galamsey, derived from the phrase gather them and sell, refers to illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ghana that operates outside formal regulatory frameworks (Zabyelina & van Uhm, 2020). Although it originated as a subsistence practice among rural communities, galamsey has expanded into a highly organized activity that now represents one of Ghana’s most serious environmental and governance challenges (Bansah et al., 2024). The environmental impacts of galamsey are extensive. Illegal mining has contributed to widespread deforestation, land degradation, and ecosystem collapse in gold-rich regions, such as Ashanti, Western, and Eastern Ghana (Bansah et al., 2024). Abandoned surface mining pits frequently fill with stagnant water, creating physical hazards and increasing malaria risk in affected communities (Ndip et al., 2024). The use of mercury and cyanide in mining operations has polluted major rivers, including the Pra and Ankobra, threatening aquatic ecosystems and human health (Koffi et al., 2017).
Beyond environmental damage, galamsey also undermines agriculture and rural livelihoods. Soil contamination and water pollution reduce farm productivity and threaten food security, particularly in cocoa-producing areas (Donkor et al., 2024). Weak enforcement and regulatory gaps have further enabled labor exploitation, including child labor and trafficking within illegal mining operations (United Nations, 2014). Despite government interventions such as Operation Vanguard, uneven enforcement and unresolved structural inequalities continue to drive illegal mining activity (Bansah et al., 2024). It is within this context of environmental degradation and civic frustration that the StopGalamseyNow movement emerged.