Environment · 2026-10-26 · Afternoon briefing

Illegal mining in Ghana threatens national gas pipelines

Illegal mining in Ghana, known locally as 'galamsey', has expanded from forests and rivers to threaten the country's energy infrastructure. The state-owned Ghana National Gas Company reports that miners are now digging beneath its high-pressure gas pipelines, creating a direct risk to energy security on top of the extensive deforestation and water pollution already caused by the practice.

Maxwell Kwame Kelly, the general manager for engineering at Ghana Gas, warned that the activity directly threatens energy production. In response, authorities including the Minerals Commission are being urged to strengthen surveillance along pipeline corridors and take decisive action against those responsible for the excavations.

The threat emerges as Ghana Gas seeks to finance a new 278-kilometre, 20-inch pipeline connecting the country's Western Region to Tema. The company aims to finalise funding for the project by the second quarter of 2027, creating new infrastructure that will also require protection from the persistent mining.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• Illegal miners dig under gas pipelines · Ghana Gas warns of threat to power supply
• Ghana risks power disruptions if galamsey destroys gas pipelines – Ghana Gas Engineer warns
• Galamsey Threat Goes Beyond Ghana’s Borders
• Ghana Water Pollution Hits 60% of Waterways
• Why the fight against illegal mining must begin with protecting the land that sustains Ghana’s cocoa industry

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