n locally as galamsey , continues to devastate communities and the environment. Returning to office earlier this year, President John Mahama has made combating galamsey one of his flagship policies. His administration has banned foreign traders from purchasing gold domestically to disrupt smuggling operations and launched a state regulatory authority to streamline revenue and oversee supply chains. Security forces have also stepped up efforts, raiding illegal mining sites and confiscating heavy equipment used in unlicensed operations. Despite these measures, the president acknowledges that the problem runs deep. “It’s a complicated fight,” Mahama told TIME in his Accra office. “More than 1.5 million Ghanaians rely on galamsey for their livelihoods. If you just stop them, what alternatives are you giving?” As global demand for gold continues to surge, Ghana finds itself walking a tightrope — balancing economic opportunity with environmental and social costs .