Ghana’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) is ramping up pressure on the government to take stronger measures against illegal gold mining, widely known as galamsey.

During a visit to the Birim River in the Eastern Region, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah described the destruction of water bodies as a “heinous crime” and condemned the government’s slow response.

He criticized recent stakeholder meetings with Civil Society Organizations, saying they have produced little progress. Ansah urged immediate, decisive action to protect the nation’s environment and livelihoods.

Meanwhile, the government says the Attorney-General is prosecuting nearly 1,500 illegal mining cases, with multiple excavators and machines confiscated since January 2025.