Despite widespread national condemnation and efforts by advocacy groups like the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, the menace of illegal mining commonly known as galamsey continues unabated, leaving farmlands devastated, water bodies polluted, and critical projects endangered.
In a bid to curb the escalating crisis, Nana Kwabena Oyiakwan II, Chief of Kwapia, led a team of police officers and National Investigations Bureau (NIB) personnel in a raid that resulted in the arrest of five illegal miners at Adaase.
Addressing the media after the operation, the chief decried the widespread destruction caused by galamsey in the enclave.
“This vast land has been ravaged by illegal miners. Recently, a farmer lost his entire oil palm plantation, which was intended to support his oil palm processing factory, yet no one seems to care,” he lamented.
Nana Oyiakwan II further alleged that 3,000 plots of land, originally earmarked for the construction of a hostel facility, were unlawfully allocated by traditional authorities from Akrokerri to illegal miners, effectively killing the project.
One of the most alarming consequences of galamsey in the area is its potential impact on AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Airport, which sits dangerously close to illegal mining activities.
The chief questioned the mining company’s silence on the issue, suggesting that its reluctance to act has worsened the situation.
He also revealed that the much-anticipated AngloGold Ashanti “Obuasi Goes Agro” project, designed to boost agricultural productivity in the area, failed to materialize because illegal miners had taken over and destroyed the designated farmland.
Nana Oyiakwan II did not hold back in his criticism of former Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Elijah Adansi-Bonah, whom he accused of being deeply involved in illegal mining activities.
“The former MCE was knee-deep in galamsey. He directly supervised the destruction of these lands, and I intend to take legal action against him,” he declared.
The chief also attributed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) poor performance in the 2024 general elections in the area to the former MCE’s alleged complicity in galamsey, arguing that his actions had eroded public trust in the party.
Supporting the chief’s claims, a youth leader in Adaase, Collins, expressed fears that the unregulated mining activities could discourage people from settling in the area.
“The presence of an airport and a military camp should make this a prime residential area, but galamsey is destroying that vision,” he said.
A resident, Papa Yaw, also lamented the severe environmental impact of illegal mining, including the destruction of water bodies and farmland.
“Our community gains nothing from these miners. Instead, we are left with polluted rivers and barren land,” he said, emphasizing the need for stronger action against illegal mining.
As illegal mining continues to wreak havoc in Obuasi and its surrounding communities, local leaders, residents, and activists are calling on authorities to take decisive steps to end the destruction.
