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Exclusive photos: Check out current state of River Pra amid galamsey fight

Though the government is committed to put an end to galamsey across the country, the menace seems to be increasing polluting more water bodies across the country, famous among them being River Pra.

The current state of the Pra River | Adomonline.com
The current state of the Pra River | Photo captured by Adomonline’s Gershon Mortey
Little boy takes a bath in the Pra River | Photo captured by Adomonline’s Gershon Mortey

Adomonline.com’s Gershon Mortey’s recent visit to the Shama District in the Western Region where the River flows from Beposo to the estuary at Shama showed how contaminated the river had become.

River Pra | Photo by Adomonline.com | Gershon Mortey
River Pra | Photo by Adomonline.com | Gershon Mortey

According to some of the local fishermen who live along the river, there had been drastic decreases of fish in the Pra River.

Two boys take a swim in River Pra at Borkokope in the Shaman District, Western Region | Adomonline.com
Two boys take a swim in River Pra at Borkokope in the Shaman District, Western Region
Young lad fetches contaminated water from River Pra
Young lad fetches contaminated water from River Pra

The locals lamented over the fact that though directives have been given out by President Akufo-Addo, the galamsey activities are still going on.

Galamsey activities affect River Pra | Photo by Adomonline.com | Gershon Mortey
Galamsey activities affect River Pra | Photo by Adomonline.com | Gershon Mortey

They bemoaned the fact that the river serves as a source of employment for them, hence the galamsey activities are rending many of them jobless.

River Pra continues to serve as a source of water and employment for many living in the Shaman District in Western Region | Photo by Adomonline.com's Gershon Mortey
River Pra continues to serve as a source of water and employment for many living in the Shaman District in Western Region | Photo by Adomonline.com’s Gershon Mortey

Aside employment, the river also serves as a source of water for farms and domestic animals of residents in the region.

It takes over 5 hours for the dirt in the water to settle before locals can drink it. Some claim they have to add alum and other chemicals to make the water potable due to the Galamsey menace
It takes over 5 hours for the dirt in the water to settle before locals can drink it. Some claim they have to add alum and other chemicals to make the water potable due to the Galamsey menace

The colour of the Pra River, according to locals, has changed completely with many of them describing galamsey as the enemy of those residing in the community.

Fisherman who work on the Pra River bemoan the lack of fishes due to Galamsey activities.
Fisherman who work on the Pra River bemoan the lack of fish due to galamsey activities.
River Pra as captured flowing from Beposo to Shaman estuary | Photo by Adomonline.com | Gershon Mortey

 

 

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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