Following an alleged incident near a police station in the Mpohor Fiase District, investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor has voiced serious concerns about what he characterizes as the ongoing spread of illicit mining, also known as galamsey.
The award-winning journalist questioned the efficacy of the nation's battle against illicit mining in a Facebook post, implying that the existence of galamsey operations near a security installation indicates a grave enforcement failure:
His remarks have rekindled debate on social media, with many Ghanaians voicing alarm over the ongoing devastation of farmlands, rivers, and forests caused by illicit mining in spite of numerous government initiatives.
Ghana Seems To Have Lost The Fight Against Galamsey
The journalist also criticized Mpohor Fiase's District Chief Executive (DCE) for allegedly neglecting to take effective action against the district's alleged unlawful mining activities.
One of Ghana's most urgent environmental issues is still Galamsey. The implementation of environmental protection legislation, the creation of joint military and police task squads, and the confiscation of mining equipment are only a few of the initiatives that successive administrations have undertaken to combat illicit mining. There are still reports of illicit mining in some areas of the nation despite these attempts.
Unchecked galamsey is poisoning important water sources, destroying forest reserves, and endangering lives, especially in farming communities, according to several warnings from environmental specialists.
It also remains unclear whether investigations have been initiated into the alleged illegal mining activity near the police station.
The latest claims are expected to intensify calls for stronger enforcement, greater accountability among local authorities and a renewed commitment to protecting Ghana's natural resources from illegal mining.