Small-scale mining, environmental destruction and democracy capture: the Government of Ghana’s failed “war on galamsey”

This article lifts a veil on democracy in Ghana to reveal how political elites have
captured democratic processes and institutions to procure private wealth and
political benefits. It does so by investigating why the Government of Ghana’s “war
on galamsey” (2017–2024) against illegal small-scale gold mining and associated
environmental degradation failed so spectacularly. Our explanation focuses on the
complicity and involvement of politicians and government officials in the very
illegal mining practices that they purport to oppose, as evidenced by various
scandals. In turn, such exposés highlight a situation of “democracy capture” in
which a political elite and associated business class has appropriated the benefits
of state control, inclusive of enrichment from illegal mining with state protection.
“Democracy capture” in Ghana is intertwined with the “monetisation” of electoral
politics, requiring ever-increasing funds, including from illegal mining, to contest
highly competitive elections. Characterizing Ghana’s polity as one of “democracy
capture” exposes significant shortcomings in Ghana’s electoral democracy and
tarnishes its reputation as a model democracy in Africa.