The Bosomtwe District is set to be declared a security zone as part of a renewed push to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and safeguard the environmentally sensitive Lake Bosomtwe, according to environmental journalist Erastus Asare Donkor.
The proposal was announced by the Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, who outlined the measure as a decisive response to the mounting environmental pressures facing the district and its prized natural asset, Lake Bosomtwe — West Africa’s only natural lake.
Ghana Seems To Have Lost The Fight Against Galamsey
According to the District Chief Executive, the planned security zone designation is intended to:
- Prevent further illegal mining activities across the district.
- Protect Lake Bosomtwe and its surrounding forests from environmental degradation.
- Restrict both legal and illegal mining operations by engaging relevant authorities to halt the issuance of new mining licences in the district
- Strengthen security on the ground by seeking support from National Security, citing limited local personnel and logistics to tackle the menace
Beyond the proposed security zone, authorities have already begun investigations aimed at arresting individuals linked to recent illegal mining activities in the district.
Reclamation efforts have also commenced, with degraded lands being targeted for restoration as part of broader efforts to reverse the environmental damage caused by mining activities in the area.
The move adds Bosomtwe to a growing list of districts where authorities are turning to security-driven interventions to curb galamsey’s toll on Ghana’s forests, water bodies, and farmlands.