From the quiet balcony of the Castle Restaurant in Cape Coast, history is always in full view. The Atlantic Ocean stretches endlessly, its waves crashing against the ancient walls of Cape Coast Castle—a solemn monument to pain, resilience, and survival. Tourists gather here daily, drawn by memory, meaning, and the enduring beauty of Ghana’s past.
Yet beneath this same horizon, a troubling new story is unfolding.
In plain sight, on the very shores that cradle one of Ghana’s most important historical landmarks, a young man bends over the sand, mining for gold. Armed with crude tools and quiet determination, he digs into the beach. His actions, though solitary, reflect a growing national crisis—one that has now reached even our most sacred and protected spaces.
This is galamsey at the doorstep of history.
What was once a preserved coastline, vital to tourism, fishing livelihoods, and coastal protection, is gradually being transformed into a site of desperation and neglect. Each disturbance of the sand weakens the environment. Each unregulated act chips away at the integrity of a heritage site meant to educate and inspire future generations.
The environment suffers in silence.
The Castle stands unmoving.
And history risks repeating itself—not through chains and ships, but through indifference and inaction.
This is not merely an environmental concern.
It is a cultural, economic, and moral alarm.
How do we explain to visitors that while we preserve castles as World Heritage Sites, we permit their surroundings to be destroyed? What message do we send to our youth when survival leaves them no option but to mine gold on a beach meant to tell the story of our past and shape our future?
This report is not shared to shame, but to call attention.
Asorba Media.com calls on the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, environmental protection agencies, traditional authorities, and security services to act decisively. Enforcement alone is not enough. It must be matched with sustainable alternatives—job creation, skills training, and meaningful community engagement—so that protecting heritage does not come at the expense of human survival.
Cape Coast is more than a tourist destination.
It is a symbol of history, culture, and promise.
Let us not allow galamsey to rewrite its story—starting from the beach.
By Frank Asorba Kofi Essuman
