As Ghana enters a new political chapter under President John Dramani Mahama’s second term, lawyer and entrepreneur Vicky Bright says the country cannot afford to treat job creation and the fight against illegal mining as separate policy goals.
Appearing on JoyNews’ AM Show, Ms Bright argued that Ghana’s economic and environmental crises are tightly linked, warning that progress in one area without action in the other could prove disastrous.
Rather than ranking employment above environmental protection—or vice versa—she insisted both must be pursued at the same time.
“For me, it’s jobs, jobs and galamsey,” she said. “If we’re going to prioritise something, I would put those two as a joint first.”
Ms Bright explained that illegal mining continues to destroy water bodies, farmlands and communities, posing serious health risks to citizens. In her view, creating jobs without confronting galamsey only deepens the nation’s long-term problems.
“There’s no point in creating jobs if we are killing people,” she stressed.
She placed particular emphasis on the youth, describing them as the backbone of Ghana’s future and the group most affected by unemployment and environmental degradation. According to her, protecting young people means offering sustainable jobs while shielding them from dangerous practices linked to illegal mining.
“The youth are the future of this nation. They are so precious to Ghana’s very survival,” she said, urging the government to prioritise policies that genuinely safeguard their wellbeing.
Her remarks come as the Mahama-led administration renews its focus on youth empowerment, job creation and environmental protection, with galamsey still ranking among Ghana’s most urgent national challenges.
Ms Bright’s comments have since added weight to the ongoing national debate on how the government can expand economic opportunities for young people while enforcing stricter measures against illegal mining, as Ghana navigates its path under President Mahama’s renewed leadership.
