The nationwide campaign against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has chalked another success as the Asokwa Divisional Police Command mounted a swift operation at Pakyi Kaniago in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, leading to the arrest of eight suspected illegal miners.
The raid, which took place on the banks of River Nwere, River Abufunu, and River Akai, uncovered extensive environmental destruction. Acting on intelligence, police officers stormed the area, catching the suspects in the act of mining with chanfan machines. Several others fled into the forest as the police moved in.
The two-hour operation also resulted in the seizure of eight motorbikes, multiple water pumping machines, and an excavator used for the illicit activity. Authorities have described the operation as a clear signal of their commitment to stamping out illegal mining in the region, which has been wreaking havoc on Ghana’s farmlands and water bodies.
Residents of Pakyi No. 1 woke up to shocking scenes of devastation, with large tracts of cocoa farms uprooted and fertile lands reduced to barren pits. Reports indicate that over ten acres of cocoa plantations have been completely destroyed. The three rivers, once the primary source of water for the community, have been heavily polluted, turning brown and toxic. The community now fears a looming environmental crisis, with many residents expressing deep sorrow over the destruction of their natural resources.
“This is beyond heartbreaking. These rivers were our lifeline, but today they are poisoned,” a distraught farmer lamented. Others warned that the ecological damage caused by the illegal miners could take years or even decades to reverse, leaving livelihoods in jeopardy.
Attempts by journalists to interview residents for on-the-record comments proved difficult, as many community members expressed fear of reprisals from illegal miners. A few who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity accused the local chief, Nana Poku Owusu Ababio II, of failing to act decisively against the menace despite its alarming scale.
The Asokwa Divisional Police Commander, Reverend Nyamekye Adani Ameyaw, confirmed the arrests and revealed that a docket has been forwarded to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for further investigation and prosecution. He disclosed that charge sheets for the suspects have already been prepared, and they will soon face court. Reverend Ameyaw stressed that the police remain committed to using intelligence-led operations to protect lives, farmlands, and natural resources from illegal mining activities.
“This operation is a clear signal that we will not relent in our fight against galamsey. We will continue to protect the environment and the livelihoods of law-abiding citizens,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents are calling on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene and save Pakyi No. 1 from total devastation. They warn that if urgent steps are not taken by both traditional and government authorities, illegal mining could wipe out their farmlands, poison water sources, and destroy the community’s future.
For now, the eight suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue, with the community anxiously awaiting justice and a coordinated plan to reclaim their land and rivers from the grip of galamsey.
