galamsey
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of galamsey
First recorded in 1980–85; dialectal abbreviation of gather them and sell
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ghana is Africa's leading gold producer, but a large portion of the country's waters and environment have been polluted by illegal mining, known as locally as "galamsey".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
The popularity of galamsey was borne out by a survey conducted by WaterAid in communities involved in illegal mining in Ghana’s Upper East Region, particularly the Bongo and Bawku West districts.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2024
He also points to an upsurge in small-scale mining in the area, known locally as galamsey, that’s polluted the water.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2024
Over 5,000 people work at the Adumanu galamsey site, most of them without legal permits, according to Joseph Owusu Sekyere, who owns several pits.
From National Geographic ● Mar. 6, 2018
I wondered how he’d gone about it, since we were always hearing how galamsey was illegal, but no one seemed to care.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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