Ghanaian actor and producer, Kwaku Manu has opened up about his past involvement in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on UTV on January 10, 2026, Kwaku Manu said he lost interest in galamsey after registering with a movie production company and fully committing himself to filmmaking.
“I registered in a movie production so when I began the movie, galamsey didn’t interest me anymore, so I decided to quit galamsey and focus more on acting movies,” he said.
The actor further described galamsey as an extremely dangerous venture, noting that wherever gold or money is found, there is always the risk of bloodshed if proper care is not taken.
“Wherever there’s gold, blood will always be shed there if care is not taken. This happens because, when you’re able to get a gold during the galamsey, you turn to forget yourself,” he explained.
Kwaku Manu recounted the hazards associated with underground mining, explaining that miners often ignore safety precautions due to excitement and the lure of quick money.
“There are some sticks we used to hold the upper part of the hole we dig to search for the gold so sometimes, some turn to forget the place is dangerous out of excitement and they will end up hurting or killing themselves,” he stated.
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According to him, the desire for money often clouds judgment, even when miners are fully aware of the risks involved.
“I’ve realised that wherever there’s money, blood is always spilled there. It’s easy to die if you’re not vigilant,” he shared.
Despite the dangers, Kwaku Manu admitted that those involved in galamsey are extremely courageous, particularly those who work underground.
“I don’t know people who are courageous than those doing galamsey, especially those who go underground. We always panic whenever we’re going underground but the money we know we’re getting matters the most,” he disclosed.
He admitted that although miners know galamsey is illegal, the financial gains often serve as a strong motivation.
“We know we’re not supposed to go there to work, but the money involved motivated us,” he added.
FG/EB
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