The Western Regional Security Council spearheaded an anti galamsey operation, confiscating eight excavators, seven pump-action guns, sixty-six cartridges, and four mobile phones from illegal miners operating along the Ankobra River in the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency.
Additionally, several water pumping machines and shelters belonging to the illegal miners were destroyed.
However, Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Musa Whajah (Rtd.), is appealing for logistical support to aid in the fight against illegal mining.
Farmlands, cocoa farms, and the Ankobra River are under severe threat due to illegal mining activities along Ampasie, Atongo Junction, Petro, and Dominase in the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency.
Our site visit revealed extensive land destruction in the pursuit of gold, with several acres ravaged. Alarmingly, these mining activities are occurring less than a kilometer from the Ankobra River, posing a direct risk of contamination.
Kwasi Sarboah, a resident of Ampasie, noted that the individuals engaged in illegal mining in the area are outsiders from other regions, not locals. Ekua Asantewaa, a food vendor, added that access to clean drinking water has become a significant challenge.
“Although they operate in our communities, they fail to employ locals. Instead, they bring people from elsewhere. After extracting sand, they sell it back to us for construction purposes.
We’re unsure if our leaders are aware, but as community members, we’re not benefiting from employment opportunities. Instead, their activities are causing environmental damage and harming our water bodies.” They lamented.
On Tuesday, May 20, the Western Regional Security Council, led by Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, launched an operation to crack down on illegal miners along the Ankobra River.
The joint effort involved personnel from the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, Takoradi Air Force, Western Naval Command, and Second Infantry Battalion.
The operation yielded significant results, including the retrieval of eight excavators, seven pump-action guns, sixty-six Cartridges and four mobile phones. Additionally, several water pumping machines and shelters belonging to the illegal miners were destroyed.
Western Region National Security Liaison Officer Brigadier General Musa Whajah (Rtd), has promised to ensure the Ankobra River returns to its normal state.
“At the end of the operation, we seized eight excavators, seven pump-action guns, sixty-six cartridges, and four mobile phones for further investigation. Additionally, several water pumping machines and shelters belonging to the illegal miners were destroyed.
I want to stress that this won’t be a one-off operation. We’ll conduct more operations and possibly deploy canoes to patrol the Ankobra and Pra rivers, ensuring they return to their normal state.” He stressed.
He noted, however, that logistics have become a significant challenge in conducting operations, but this won’t hinder their efforts.
“A key challenge has been logistics, but it hasn’t hindered our efforts to conduct operations. The devastation along the riverbanks sometimes also slows our movement and activities, but we’re up to the task.” He added.
