Galamsey eats our food: Reframing illegal mining as a food systems crisis in Ghana

Illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mining ( galamsey ) in Ghana is commonly framed as an environmental or economic issue. This commentary argues that such perspectives are incomplete because illegal mining fundamentally constitutes a food systems crisis. Drawing on a systems perspective, this commentary synthesizes existing literature to demonstrate how galamsey disrupts agricultural production, contaminates water resources, undermines livelihoods, and creates reinforcing cycles of environmental degradation and food insecurity. The commentary identifies key leverage points, including strengthened, politically accountable enforcement; simplified pathways to legal mining; locally viable alternative livelihoods; geospatial environmental monitoring; community participation; and restoration of degraded agricultural land. By reframing galamsey as a food systems challenge, this commentary calls for integrated policy responses that align environmental sustainability with livelihood security.