A 19-year-old boy has drowned in a galamsey pit at Sehwi Chiene, a farming community in the Bibiani Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region.
Herod Cobbina, the young victim, lost his life after deciding to join his colleagues at the galamsey site.
His father, Nana Kwabena Nipa III, said he was on his farm when he received a distress call informing him that his son had died in a galamsey pit at Sehwi Chiene. He rushed to the scene and found his son’s lifeless body, which had already been retrieved from the pit.
He expressed suspicion of foul play in his son’s death due to the circumstances surrounding the incident. He called on the Bibiani Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation and bring any perpetrators to justice.
Illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has had a devastating impact on the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality. The once fertile lands used for farming are now dotted with abandoned pits and destroyed vegetation. Farmers in the area have been forced to abandon their livelihoods due to contaminated soils and unsafe terrain.
Water bodies in the municipality, including rivers and streams that once served as sources of drinking water and irrigation, have been heavily polluted with mercury and other chemicals used in illegal mining activities. This has not only endangered aquatic life but also posed serious health risks to residents who rely on these water sources.
The environmental degradation has also led to an increase in flooding and soil erosion. Without trees and vegetation to hold the soil, heavy rains now wash away topsoil, damage homes, and destroy roads, further isolating communities and making access to basic services difficult.
Socially, galamsey operations have fueled insecurity and contributed to the breakdown of community structures. The influx of youth and foreigners into galamsey sites has led to rising crime rates, substance abuse, and school dropouts. Many young people are lured into the dangerous trade, often resulting in injuries or deaths, like in the case of Herod Cobbina.
Local leaders and environmental advocates continue to call on the government and law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against illegal mining. They are also urging for sustainable livelihood alternatives and stricter enforcement of mining regulations to protect both the people and the environment of Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai.
Obrempong Kwame Yeboah, reporting from Sehwi Chiene, Western North Region.
