Frimpong‑Boateng: Ghana doesn’t need China’s advice on galamsey
A new cooperation agreement between Ghana and China on illegal mining has drawn criticism from former Environment Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who says the arrangement raises broader questions about the country’s ability to manage its own natural resources decades after independence.
Rather than focusing on the details of the agreement itself, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng argued that Ghana should already possess the technical capacity needed to support institutions such as the Geological Survey Authority without relying on external guidance.
His comments were made during an appearance on The Point of View on Channel One TV, where he reflected on recent efforts by government to strengthen international partnerships in the mining sector.
The latest Ghana-China engagement, held on the sidelines of the China Mining Conference in Tianjin, resulted in discussions on tackling illegal mining, expanding geological cooperation and encouraging responsible investment in Ghana’s extractive industry. Government officials have described the outcome as a step towards improving regulation and sustainability within the sector.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, however, believes the conversation should not be about what foreign countries can do for Ghana, but whether Ghana has done enough to build and trust its own institutions.
For him, the issue goes beyond mining. He cited other instances where foreign governments or partners have become involved in development initiatives, arguing that such situations reflect a persistent inability to develop local solutions to national challenges.
The former minister also used the opportunity to question the intensity of the current campaign against illegal mining. He suggested that despite repeated assurances and public statements, the scale of the response has not convinced him that the problem is being confronted with the urgency it requires.
According to him, concerns about illegal mining are widely shared, including among some individuals within the governing National Democratic Congress, although he claimed many are unwilling to express those views publicly.
His remarks come at a time when pressure continues to mount on authorities to curb illegal mining activities that have affected rivers, forests and farmlands across several parts of the country.
While government officials view international cooperation as a practical way to access technical expertise and strengthen oversight of the mining industry, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng insists Ghana’s long-term solution lies in building confidence in its own institutions and reducing dependence on external support.
Source: CNR
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