163 people were convicted of galamsey offences between 2020 and 2025

A total of 163 people were convicted and imprisoned for offences related to illegal mining in Ghana between January 2020 and December 2025.

The figures show that convictions increased during the first three years of the period, reaching their highest level in 2022, before declining steadily from 2023.

Illegal mining, widely known as “galamsey”, has become a major economic and environmental crisis in Ghana. Driven partly by rising gold prices and limited livelihood opportunities in rural communities, the unauthorised mining activities are estimated to cost the country about US$2.3 billion in revenue each year.

Beyond the financial losses, galamsey has destroyed large areas of forest cover and polluted more than 60% of Ghana’s major river systems with hazardous substances, including mercury and cyanide.

According to the Dennislaw Research Desk, 18 people were convicted of mining-related offences in 2020. The number rose to 35 in 2021 and reached a six-year high of 43 in 2022.

Convictions subsequently declined to 32 in 2023, 21 in 2024 and 14 in 2025.

The data also shows that an overwhelming majority of those convicted were men. Of the 163 inmates, 161 were male, while only two were female.

People between the ages of 26 and 35 constituted the largest age group, accounting for 70 inmates. They were followed by those aged between 18 and 25, who numbered 53, while another 26 inmates were between the ages of 36 and 45.

The remaining inmates comprised eight people aged between 46 and 55, five between 56 and 65, and one person between 66 and 75.

Ghanaians accounted for the vast majority of those convicted, with 146 inmates. The remaining 17 were foreign nationals, comprising five Burkinabè nationals, four Togolese, three Nigeriens, three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians.

The sentences imposed varied considerably. Five inmates received prison terms of less than two years, while 14 were sentenced to between two and three years.

The largest group, comprising 72 inmates, received sentences of more than eight years but not exceeding 10 years.

The records further show that 43 inmates were sentenced to more than 15 years but not exceeding 16 years, while nine received sentences of more than 16 years but not exceeding 20 years.

A further nine inmates were handed prison terms exceeding 20 years.