Illegal Ghanaian gold mining threatens security and forests, warns GCERF report
The GCERF warns that Ghana's illegal artisanal gold mining, called galamsey, is creating security problems and environmental damage that also impacts Switzerland's gold market.
A recent report by the GCERF highlights how the surge in illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana, known as galamsey, is destabilising local communities and harming forests. The rise is linked to higher gold prices, which have intensified the practice. Alessia Polidoro, the report’s lead author, stresses that these security and ecological risks extend to Switzerland, a key partner in Ghana’s gold trade. The findings follow an article that documented the visible devastation caused by the mining boom.
Why it matters
The spread of illegal gold mining threatens regional stability, ecosystems and the supply chain for Swiss gold buyers.
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