illegal miners
Unregulated mining activities in northern Ghana are creating serious cross-border security concerns, with disputes over gold-rich lands, the presence of foreign miners and weak oversight exposing vulnerable border communities to potential extremist infiltration, a University for Development Studies (UDS) professor has warned.
Professor Ebenezer Owusu-Sekyere, one of the researchers and a Professor of Environment and Sustainability Science at UDS, said the security implications of galamsey in the Northern Ecological Zone required urgent attention, particularly in communities bordering Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.
Presenting findings from the Three Gold for Good Baseline Studies at its launch in Accra on Thursday, November 5, 2026, he said field investigations had uncovered unlicensed mining operations, disputes over customary land boundaries, armed community security arrangements an
d mining activities in remote border locations.
He cautioned that the consequences of illegal mining went beyond environmental degradation and the economic benefits associated with gold, warning that the activities could create security vulnerabilities in areas where extremist groups operate.
Professor Owusu-Sekyere cited mining activities along the Black Volta, particularly around Sawla where, according to his observations, miners operated at night and disappeared by morning.
He also raised concerns about the involvement of foreign sponsors and miners in some of the operations, noting that the remote locations and proximity to international borders made effective monitoring and law enforcement difficult.
One of the areas he identified as particularly concerning was Dollar Power, where he said disputes over boundary pillars had emerged amid competition for gold resources.
According to accounts gathered during the research, some individuals from neighbouring countries allegedly moved boundary pillars at night to extend their territory into Ghana, while their Ghanaian counterparts also moved the markers during the day.
He said the researchers were informed of cases in which Ghanaians had been arrested and detained in Côte d’Ivoire over the disputes, underscoring the need for stronger attention to cross-border security in the area.
The professor also identified conflicts between communities over overlapping customary boundaries and mining concessions. These included disputes involving Wakawaka and Saka, as well as tensions in Dollar Power and Tutumba.
He said some local small-scale miners had been prevented from operating in areas where large-scale mining companies had been granted concessions, creating resentment and further tensions.
In some communities, the research also found that traditional authorities had established local governance and security structures to regulate mining activities. These included committees headed by chiefs and checkpoints manned by armed young men along routes leading to mining sites.
However, Professor Owusu-Sekyere said the structures often failed to adequately represent the concerns of women and children, despite their involvement in mining activities.
He further highlighted weaknesses in the coordination between district authorities, regulators and traditional leaders, citing instances where mining companies held concessions in districts without the knowledge of the District Chief Executives.
According to him, some DCEs only became aware of the companies’ presence when their representatives paid courtesy calls, despite the companies already holding mining licences in their jurisdictions.
The research also identified significant gaps in reliable information on mining activities and the number of people involved.
At some sites, estimates of the number of miners differed considerably from the researchers’ observations. At Dollar Power, for instance, they were initially told that about 8,000 people were involved in mining, but field observations suggested the figure could exceed 15,000.
He said the study had identified more than 30 mining sites and called for a digital mapping system to provide district authorities with accurate information on their locations, conflict hotspots and the nature of disputes.
He also urged authorities to integrate local communities into peace and security interventions, arguing that residents possessed important information that they were often reluctant to share with outsiders.
Another concern was the absence of reliable mobile network coverage in some border communities. Recounting a field experience in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba area, he said the research team lost its way and could not make calls through Ghanaian networks, forcing them to purchase airtime from a neighbouring country’s network to seek assistance.
He said the experience demonstrated the communication challenges facing remote border communities and the potential risks they posed to residents and people working in the area.
Professor Owusu-Sekyere called for stronger collaboration among district assemblies, regulatory institutions and traditional authorities, supported by reliable data on mining sites and real-time information on people operating at the sites.
He stressed that effective responses to galamsey in northern Ghana must consider not only the environmental and economic consequences but also the wider implications for peace, security and the country’s border communities.
The Gold for Good Project is an 18 month EUR 3 million initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by Coginta in the Savannah Region.
Working with national and district authorities , mining communities and local organisations, the project seeks to make artisanal mining safer, more responsible and more sustainable.
