Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson
Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has welcomed the government’s decision to offer a 10% bounty to whistleblowers who provide credible information in the fight against illegal gold dealings
Koomson described the whistleblower incentive as a “step in the right direction,” but cautioned that the success of the initiative hinges on the government’s willingness to impose strict sanctions on offenders.
“Yes, the 10% bounty is a good incentive and could help expose galamsey operators.”
“But if we don’t take strict punitive action against the culprits—the very people destroying our lands and water bodies—we will not see any real change,” Koomson stressed.
He noted that illegal mining continues to wreak havoc on the environment, polluting rivers, degrading farmlands, and threatening the health and livelihoods of communities across the country.
According to Koomson, while whistleblowers can play a crucial role in identifying and reporting illegal mining operations, their efforts must be matched by swift and decisive law enforcement to ensure a lasting impact.
His comments come in the wake of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent announcement of a 10% reward scheme for individuals who provide information leading to the recovery of illegally traded or smuggled gold.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Ghana Gold Board Task Force in Accra on Monday, July 8, 2025.
The task force has been mandated to clamp down on illegal gold trading, gold smuggling, and market price manipulation in the sector.
President Mahama revealed that informants would receive 10% of the value of any gold or cash recovered through their tips, as part of efforts to deepen citizen participation in tackling galamsey.
While praising the initiative, Mr. Koomson urged the government to back it with a firm resolve to punish environmental offenders.
“Galamsey is not just an environmental issue — it’s a national crisis. We must reward those who help us fight it, yes, but we must also make sure those destroying our country’s future pay the price,” he concluded
He made this remark speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show with Nana Dogbe on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
