Mr. President please talk to your soldiers – Galamseyer pleads with President Mahama

A young man involved in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has made a heartfelt appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, asking him to stop the military from chasing away miners.

In a video he recorded himself—which has now gone viral—the man begged the President to step in. He said galamsey is the only way people in his area are able to survive and feed their families.

“Your Excellency John Dramani Mahama, please talk to your soldiers. This is the only job we have to survive and take care of our families. We are not stealing or killing—this is just galamsey we are doing to feed ourselves,” the miner said emotionally.

He explained that the military operation is making life hard for many, and he pleaded with the government to think about how families are suffering because of the clampdown.

Over the years, the Ghana Armed Forces have been working hard to stop illegal mining, under both the past and present governments. They’ve been arresting people and closing down operations in an effort to protect the environment.

An illegal miner has pleaded with President John Mahama to intervene and engage the military, urging them to allow galamseyers to continue their operations, which he describes as their only means of livelihood and family support. pic.twitter.com/79nJYmJCAw

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) June 23, 2025