River Ankobra under siege as galamseyers are at it again

It has become necessary for the government of Akufo-Addo to double the estimated $400 million amount needed to dredge and clean the heavy mercury content in the Ankobra River in the Western Region.

This is as a result of the return of illegal miners in the area along the River Ankobra, prospecting for gold at the blindside of the national task force, Operation Vanguard (OV).

Today can report that in spite of efforts by the OV, the activities of illegal miners, popularly known as ‘galamseyers’ have increased, thereby eroding the gains so far chalked by members of the national task force.

A visit to the Western Region by Today recently revealed that even though eight mining firms which were secretly involved in illegal mining operations and discharging waste into the river had stopped operations, other minors were back, and operating in resentful alacrity.

Communities where the river flows, especially Hiawa, Wassa Akropong, Ankwanso, Esikuma, Asonua, Prestea, Huni-Valley including many other hamlets, Today observed, were all doing brisk galamsey business.

River Ankobra, which Ghana’s largest water basin, takes its source from North East of Sefwi Wiawso in the northern part of Western Region. The river further meanders its way 190 kilometers southwards into the Gulf of Guinea.

Some residents of Hiawa, whose main occupation before the influx of galamsey was fishing, lamented the return of the illegal minors after the initial break.

According to them, things had gone bad again and were getting worse by the day.

The banks of River Ankobra in the Prestea and Huni-Valley area, which became a business hub before the formation of the Operation Vanguard, Today further observed, had bounced back for business.

The local people claimed that the delay in lifting the ban on galamsey might be the reason.

Some residents who interacted with Today, however, appeared unconcerned about the destruction of the river as that was what they got their daily bread from.

Opanin Adjei Mosi, a resident of Asonia in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region, bemoaned that: “the galamsey operators are all over the place so this contaminated water we see here is due to their activities. It changed a little when the national task force began their operations, but sadly they are back. Ankobra looks brownish and milky again.”

“I cry for Ghana and it is my wish that all patriotic Ghanaians will cry with me. I have heard of galamsey, but the reality of it hit me when I arrived at this village to work as a teacher and saw river Ankobra. I think the work of the government task force is in vain,” Joseph Mensah, a newly-posted teacher to Asikuma a village along the river Ankobra, averred.

An 80-year-old man, resident of Ankwaso, another community along the bank of the river, Isaac Ampong, told Today that the scourge of galamsey had transformed “our once purely blue Ankobra, into heavy polluted and unsightly water that can no longer sustain aquatic and community livelihood. The youth don’t care about the damage they are causing to the river; they are only interested in money. They are back into the river. Efforts of the President are in vain.”

However, most of the communities were happy with the efforts of Operation Vanguard.

Some of the residents accused politicians, especially, District and Metropolitan Chief Executives, of undermining the effort of the President.

According them, these politicians know those behind the pollution of the river Ankobra.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched Operation Vanguard in July 2017 after an intense media campaign, which called for action to stop galamsey in the country to save water bodies and the vegetation cover.

Since it was launched, over 1,000 illegal miners have been arrested and their equipment seized, with over 340 makeshift accommodations destroyed and mining equipment, including chanfans, water-pumping machines, motorcycles and tri-cycles abandoned by illegal miners.