Residents of Sefwi Amoaya in the Bodi District of the Western North Region are grappling with a resurgence of illegal mining activities, months after fiercely opposing such operations in their community.
The community had earlier taken a strong stance against mining in any form, following allegations that the former chief and the Assemblyman had reached an agreement with some miners to operate in the area.
The tensions escalated into violence, leading to the vandalism of a provision store belonging to the Assemblyman, the burning of a Toyota Highlander owned by the former chief, and extensive damage to the chief’s palace.
In a twist of events, the former chief reportedly fell ill and died shortly after the incident, while the Assemblyman has since been unable to restore his damaged property.
However, a recent visit by Onua News to the community reveals that illegal miners have now taken over parts of Sefwi Amoaya, raising concerns among residents.
The community’s main river, River Bia, has been heavily polluted and degraded due to the activities of the miners.
In addition, a waterlogged area in the middle of the town has been converted into a mining site, with large, uncovered pits posing a significant danger to residents, especially children who pass through the area on daily errands.
When Onua news visited the chief’s palace to seek answers on the ongoing activities, the chief was unavailable. However, a representative, Mr Ofori, indicated that steps are being taken to halt the operations of the illegal miners.
Meanwhile, the work is still ongoing.
Residents say the situation is alarming, noting that several people have lost their lives over the years after falling into abandoned galamsey pits.
With the current mining activities taking place within the heart of the community, fears are mounting that more lives could be at risk if urgent intervention is not carried out.
Some affected residents who spoke to Onua News called on authorities to take swift action to clamp down on the illegal mining and restore safety in the community.
By Emmanuel Sowah
