Climate change governance in the Global South requires policies that address environmental degradation alongside development pressures. In Ghana, illegal mining (“Galamsey”) has become a major driver of land degradation, water pollution, sanitation crises, and climate vulnerability. Examining Ghana’s response provides insight into both progress and persistent policy gaps.
One relatively effective national framework has been Ghana’s commitment under the Paris Agreement through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Ghana’s climate strategies promoting reforestation, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture have helped mainstream climate action into national development planning. Their success has been supported by international partnerships, donor funding, and increasing public awareness of environmental sustainability.
However, policies aimed at combating illegal mining have struggled to deliver lasting results. Irrespective of the task forces, temporary bans, and military interventions, enforcement has been inconsistent. Political interference, corruption, youth unemployment, and economic dependence on gold exports weaken implementation. Illegal mining destroys forest cover (reducing carbon sinks), pollutes rivers such as the Pra, Tano, Densu and Ankobra (affecting sanitation and potable water), and leaves degraded lands that increase flooding and local climate risks. The gap between policy design and enforcement remains a major barrier.
Current international frameworks like the Paris Agreement provide important direction, but they are not fully sufficient to meet global climate goals. Commitments are largely voluntary, climate finance is inadequate, and vulnerable countries like Ghana still face limited adaptation funding compared to their needs.
Political, economic, and social factors strongly shape outcomes. In Ghana, poverty, unemployment, and local political patronage networks make enforcement against illegal mining difficult. Climate policies cannot succeed without addressing these structural realities.
Bangladesh’s experience shows the importance of integrating adaptation, mitigation, and dedicated climate financing into a coordinated framework. Ghana could similarly strengthen domestic climate funds, improve transparency, and align environmental enforcement with community livelihood alternatives.
To bridge the policy-action gap, Ghana needs stronger institutional accountability, sustained funding, community-based natural resource management, and economic diversification to reduce reliance on environmentally destructive activities. Without aligning environmental protection with social and economic priorities, climate policies will continue to face implementation challenges.