A government advisory team on a fact-finding mission to investigate the impact of illicit mining (galamsey) encountered significant resistance in areas of the Western and Central regions, immobilising and seizing equipment.
The operation, which aimed to reduce environmental harm, aroused outrage among illegal miners and some members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The squad, which had been visiting highly impacted areas, acted decisively, seizing pumping machines, generators, and excavators, as well as damaging Changfan machinery at galamsey sites in Anwia (near Nkroful), Prestea, and Dunkwa.
However, in Dunkwa, emotions rose as miners, led by the NDC Constituency Chairman, gathered to face the team.
The NDC official, supported by furious miners and townspeople, said that he had not been consulted prior to the raid.
The demonstrators, many of whom were directly involved in illegal mining activities along the Offin River, barricaded highways and threatened to confront the highly armed security personnel accompanying the team.
The situation at Anwia was bad, with illicit mining causing major damage to roadways and nearly collapsing concrete storm drains.
The advising team responded by raiding the area, dismantling galamsey equipment, and setting fire to the mining sites.
A similar operation took place at a mining location near a technical school in Nkroful, when many pumps and generators were seized.
In Baduwa No.2, Upper Denkyira East District, illicit mining along the Offin River has been highlighted as a severe environmental danger, causing regular floods and ruining farmlands.
Residents criticised the long-term damage to their villages, with others expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s unwillingness to stop galamsey operations.
Tensions flared when the team, while doing an overhead survey of Dunkwa township, uncovered a vast illegal dig dangerously near to the town’s major bridge.
An agitated mob swarmed the scene as they examined the situation, demanding that the crew leave immediately. The situation escalated, with a mob assembling along the bridge and openly defying the security troops.
Despite the animosity, the advisory team, which includes Rear Admiral (Rtd) Moses Beick-Baffour, remains committed to its purpose of informing government policy on illicit mining and strengthening future enforcement measures.
As the fight against illicit mining heats up, the new resistance underscores the rising political and social tensions around galamsey enforcement, raising serious concerns about governance, local complicity, and environmental law enforcement in Ghana.
Source: myjoyonline.com
