The Feedback Loop: Galamsey And Extreme Weather
The environmental destruction caused by galamsey feeds directly into a feedback loop that worsens climate change. Deforestation and soil erosion reduce rainfall infiltration, leading to flash floods during heavy rains and longer dry spells during droughts. These extreme weather events, already intensified by global climate change, further degrade the land, making it even more vulnerable to illegal mining activities. In turn, each new mining site accelerates environmental destruction, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and weakening climate resilience. The cycle is a stark reminder that galamsey is not just an economic and legal issue—it’s a climate emergency.
Extreme weather patterns make galamsey sites even more dangerous. Heavy rains can cause pits to collapse, spilling sediments and pollutants into rivers at a faster rate. These sudden influxes of toxins devastate aquatic life and pollute drinking water sources.
Droughts, on the other hand, force more people into illegal mining as farming becomes less viable. This increases the pressure on natural landscapes, creating a vicious cycle where climate stress drives galamsey, and galamsey worsens climate change. Over time, entire communities may become trapped in this destructive economic loop.
The destruction of vegetation also means less shade and higher ground temperatures, which in turn increase water evaporation rates. This worsens heat stress for both humans and animals, amplifying the impacts of climate change in rural areas. Such conditions push ecosystems to the brink of collapse.
Credit: Ayettey Ebenezer
Photographer (Express News Ghana)
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