Renowned security analyst Prof. Kwesi Aning has delivered a bold warning to Ghana’s leadership: stop letting foreign criminals off the hook, or risk becoming a playground for global crime syndicates.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday night, April 8, Prof. Aning didn’t mince words. “When you give a free pass to foreigners who pose existential threats, you’re basically cutting your nose to spite your face,” he said sharply.
His comments come amidst growing concern over the illegal mining menace—better known as galamsey—which has devastated Ghana’s environment and is now deeply entangled with transnational criminal networks.
According to Prof. Aning, Ghana’s biggest problem isn’t just the crime—it’s the silence and inaction. He pointed to the state’s failure to enforce key laws like the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) and its 2009 amendment (Act 995), warning that without real prosecutions, Ghana is wide open to exploitation.
“The urgency is clear. The President knows it. The Lands Minister knows it. But urgency without action means nothing,” he said, referencing President Mahama’s recent State of the Nation Address, which described galamsey as a national security emergency.
He didn’t stop there.
“We reshuffle police commanders, hold press conferences, and call for calm—but we’re still treating people who threaten our sovereignty with kid gloves,” Prof. Aning said.
The danger, he warned, goes far beyond illegal mining. Weak enforcement invites more serious threats: money laundering, drug trafficking, and even terrorism financing. “When criminals realize there are no consequences, they build networks. And those networks grow stronger every day we fail to act.”
His message was clear and urgent: Ghana has the laws, and it understands the risks. What’s missing? The political will to act.
“This is a fight for our survival,” Prof. Aning concluded. “And time is running out.”