Former Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh, has criticised successive governments for failing to adequately address illegal mining and recurring flooding.
He described the situation as evidence of deeper weaknesses in Ghana’s governance system.
He says the continued destruction of water bodies through galamsey and the repeated flooding of communities during the rainy season demonstrate the state’s inability to confront longstanding problems despite public outrage and political promises.
Speaking at a JoyNews and An Amalgam of Professionals event on Tuesday, October 20, the business executive said the consequences of illegal mining posed a threat to present and future generations.
“The existential threat of Galamsey – illegal mining, a wanton ecocide that endangers our collective future marches on,” he said.
Mr Nsarkoh noted that the pollution of water bodies continued to spread, while successive governments had struggled to stop the practice.
He also criticised land administration in Accra, citing demolitions, buildings on unsuitable sites and developments that obstruct waterways as part of a wider problem contributing to flooding.
He said the pattern had become familiar: heavy rains cause flooding, videos circulate on social media, public anger mounts and politicians express concern, but attention fades when the rains stop.
“Then comes August, the rains stop, citizens move on to other subjects,” he said, warning that the same problems return when the next rainy season begins.
Mr Nsarkoh argued that these recurring crises reflected a political system that frequently responds to problems after they occur instead of addressing their underlying causes.
He also criticised the influence of political vigilantism, arguing that the impunity enjoyed by politically connected actors raises concerns about the state’s ability to enforce the law consistently.
He called for a more serious approach to governance that prioritises the long-term wellbeing of citizens over partisan exchanges and temporary public reactions.