Galamsey fight must include protection of vulnerable children – Justice Ameevor
THE Presiding Judge of the Savannah Region Circuit Court, Justice Livingstone Ameevor, has raised concern over the growing connection between illegal mining (galamsey) activities and increasing cases of defilement, teenage pregnancy and child exploitation in mining communities.
He said some illegal miners were engaging in sexual relationships with underage girls due to a false belief that such acts would bring them good fortune and help them discover more gold.
Justice Ameevor explained that some self-styled spiritualists had allegedly convinced miners that sleeping with young girls, particularly virgins, would improve their chances of finding gold.
He made the observation in Tamale during the 2026 Protection and Justice System (PJS) Leaders’ Summit organised by the International Justice Mission (IJM) on the theme: ‘Trauma-Informed Care: Cross-Agency Collaboration Against Human Trafficking.’
The summit brought together district and regional heads of key state institutions from the five northern regions, including the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Social Welfare, the Office of the Attorney-General and State Attorneys, as well as other stakeholders within the Protection and Justice System.
Sharing his experiences from the Bench, Justice Ameevor emphasised that he had handled several cases from illegal mining communities in the Savannah Region involving the sexual abuse of minors and teenage pregnancies.
“The problem goes beyond environmental degradation. Illegal mining is also creating serious social challenges. There is a disturbing belief among some illegal miners that engaging in sexual relations with young girls attracts gold,” he revealed.
The judge noted that poverty had made many young girls vulnerable to exploitation, as some were easily attracted by promises of financial support from miners without fully understanding the risks involved.
He said the situation had contributed to the increasing cases of defilement, teenage pregnancy and other forms of abuse in mining communities.
Justice Ameevor stressed that addressing the problem required stronger collaboration among state institutions, development partners, traditional authorities and civil society organisations.
He called for perpetrators to face the full force of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The criminal enterprise is succeeding because of demand and supply. We are all desirous of making money, and until we deal decisively with those who exploit children and prosecute offenders, the problem will persist,” he said.
The judge also called for intensified public education, strict enforcement of child protection laws and the creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families to reduce the economic pressures that expose children to exploitation.
Earlier, the Manager of the Justice System Programme at IJM, Madam Yaa Nyarko Asamoah, outlined the organisation’s interventions aimed at strengthening Ghana’s justice system and improving collaboration among stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.
The Tamale Projects Manager of IJM, Madam Shirley Dubgu Issifu, appealed to government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to deepen collaboration and provide the necessary support to protect vulnerable children and secure justice for survivors.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, also expressed concern over the rising cases of child trafficking in the northern sector, describing it as a growing threat requiring urgent and coordinated action.
He assured participants of the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to combating child trafficking and working with stakeholders to investigate cases, rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
The summit was aimed at strengthening cooperation among institutions responsible for fighting human trafficking and improving victim protection across the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West regions.
Participants discussed challenges affecting the investigation, prosecution and management of human trafficking cases, shared experiences and best practices, and proposed measures to improve inter-agency collaboration in securing justice for survivors.
From Geoffrey Buta, Tamale
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