The fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to face serious setbacks in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region. Angry residents and traditional authorities are raising serious concerns as farmlands, rivers, and forest reserves continue to suffer massive destruction from illegal mining activities.
Communities including Sefwi Chirano, Kyeene, Aboduabo, and Beposo are among the hardest hit. Vast farmlands have been destroyed, mining pits abandoned, and water bodies — especially River Mensin — have been polluted beyond recognition. Residents say the situation is getting worse by the day.
Farmers in the area say their livelihoods are under serious threat. “My cocoa farm at Kyeene has been turned into a pit. I have no means of survival now. Government must come to our aid,” a distressed farmer told Daily Guide. Similar concerns were expressed by farmers in Aboduabo and Beposo.
Local youth groups and residents are openly questioning whether the government has lost the fight against galamsey. They argue that security operations are often temporary and ineffective, as the illegal miners return to site shortly after the military or police teams leave.
Traditional leaders are demanding tougher enforcement, particularly from the Minerals Commission, the statutory body responsible for regulating Ghana’s mineral resources. According to them, the continued destruction of farmlands and rivers is a clear sign that regulatory bodies are failing in their mandate.
The Minerals Commission, established under Act 450, is mandated to regulate and manage mineral resources, ensure compliance with mining laws, and safeguard the environment. However, residents complain that the Commission’s presence in the area is virtually nonexistent, as galamsey activities continue to flourish without restraint.
Environmental campaigners have also raised alarm over the devastating impact on the ecosystem. “The destruction is massive. If immediate steps are not taken, we will lose our rivers, lands, and livelihoods permanently,” an environmental advocate based in Sefwi Chirano warned.
Worryingly, journalists who attempt to expose these illegal activities are being met with fierce resistance, threats, and attacks from some alleged footsoldiers of the ruling party. Some media practitioners say they have been harassed, intimidated, and warned to stay away from reporting on galamsey operations in the area. This growing culture of fear is making it increasingly difficult for the media to hold perpetrators accountable and keep the public informed.
Despite several security operations in the past, residents maintain that the situation does not reflect any meaningful success. They believe that without stronger political will, full enforcement of the mining laws, protection for journalists, and a more visible and effective Minerals Commission, the fight against galamsey may be completely lost in the municipality.
The question on everyone’s lips across Sefwi Chirano, Kyeene, Aboduabo, Beposo, and the wider Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality remains: Has the government truly lost the galamsey war? Residents are demanding urgent and decisive action before the destruction becomes irreversible.
