Editorial: Mahama’s Galamsey Gamble and Ghana’s Quiet Fury

Ghanaians are often described as a people of short fuse but silent endurance — a society that bottles up frustration behind polite smiles until the moment the pot boils over. Unlike Nigerians, who erupt onto the streets the instant injustice strikes, Ghanaians tend to simmer quietly, masking anger beneath calm faces. But when that patience finally snaps, the political consequences are swift and unforgiving.

That quiet fury is brewing again — this time over the worsening scourge of galamsey (illegal mining). The same wave of disillusionment that swept the NPP out of office could soon engulf the Mahama-led NDC government if it continues to underestimate public outrage over the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and farmlands.

A Broken Promise of Change

When John Mahama and the NDC rode into power, they capitalized on public anger at the previous government’s failure to halt galamsey. They promised decisive action, environmental restoration, and a moral awakening. Instead, ten months into power, the picture is far grimmer. River turbidity has skyrocketed, farmlands have been poisoned with mercury and cyanide, and food safety is deteriorating at alarming rates.

The hypocrisy is painful. During campaigns, Mahama’s voice was one of moral outrage. Today, that same voice is drowned in political silence and excuses. Ghanaians are witnessing a government boxed into its own rhetoric — unable to apologize, unwilling to act, and trapped by the very promises that brought it to power.

The Politics of Greed

The galamsey crisis has become a gold rush for the politically connected. Those who once condemned the rot now profit from it. Reports of politically protected operations, compromised security agencies, and “ghost concessions” are rampant. The government’s reluctance to act decisively is not a mystery — it’s a matter of money.

But Mahama must remember: Ghanaians are watching. They may not flood the streets like Nigerians, but they will make their anger known at the ballot box. Every poisoned river, every dying cocoa tree, every family that buries a cancer victim because of contaminated water — these are votes being counted against him.

Too Little, Too Late

With just about a year to the next election, any sudden crackdown on galamsey will be seen for what it is — political desperation. The people are not naïve. They know when a government is acting out of genuine conviction and when it is merely trying to save face. A late attempt to appear tough on galamsey will not wash away a year’s worth of environmental betrayal.

The Verdict Ahead

Ghana stands at a dangerous crossroads. The country’s natural resources are bleeding, its food chain is poisoned, and its leaders seem more interested in political calculations than in saving lives. The patience of the Ghanaian people has limits — and the 2026 elections may well be the breaking point.

Mahama and his government would be wise to heed the quiet anger rising across the land. Ghana’s rivers no longer flow clean, but the people’s memory is crystal clear.

— Editorial Board, Nsemgh.com