The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has issued a stern warning about the escalating threat of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, cautioning that if urgent action is not taken, the menace could “engulf the entire nation” and destroy Ghana’s future.

Speaking at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards Dinner held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Saturday, November 8, 2025, the Asante King described the illegal mining trade as a “mafia-like” operation that has infiltrated deep into the fabric of society, undermining governance, the environment, and moral values.

“We are becoming more and more like a mafia situation, where if we are not very careful, it’s going to engulf all of us,” the Asantehene warned. “We have to take this issue very seriously. We joke about it or think it’s not serious, but it is.”