Head of the Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, has raised critical concerns about the persistent challenge of illegal mining, known as galamsey.

He attributes much of the issue to the high rate of youth unemployment.

In an interview on the Joy News AM Show, Mr. Peprah explained that many young individuals, lacking stable employment opportunities, have resorted to galamsey as a means of survival.

“People cannot sleep,” he said, stressing that the unemployed are left with little choice but to find ways to survive. “You expect them to die of hunger? That’s the root cause of the galamsey problem we face today.”

He further emphasized that for many youths, galamsey presents an alternative to unemployment, allowing them to earn money where there are few other options.

“A lot of these youths, when they wake up, they have nothing to do,” he explained. “If they are not employed and see a way to make 50 to 100 cedis a day with a pickaxe, they’ll take it, even if it puts their lives in danger.” He identified this as a major factor driving the spread of illegal mining.

Mr. Peprah also criticized the use of force as an ineffective and short-term solution to galamsey.

“When the military is called in, they may stop the miners for a while, but once they leave, the mining resumes because the people need to survive,” he remarked. “It’s not about defiance; it’s about survival.”

To resolve the issue, he argued, the government must first address the root cause: the widespread lack of employment for young people.

“When we understand this, we can start finding real solutions,” he said. “But in this country, we often avoid dealing with the real issues and only react with panic when problems arise.”

He concluded by calling for a more comprehensive solution, one that not only targets illegal mining but also seeks to provide lasting job opportunities for the youth.

“We need to focus on long-term solutions, not just temporary fixes,” he urged, appealing for collaboration from the government and relevant stakeholders to tackle youth unemployment.