July 19, 2025 – The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, under the Blue Water Guards initiative led by the sector Minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has intensified the fight against illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, in parts of the Western Region.
The move forms part of a nationwide campaign against illegal miners who are polluting river bodies and degrading forest reserves.
In a recent joint operation carried out by the Minerals Commission and the galamsey task force in the Wassa Amenfi East District on July 7, 2025, between 10:00 and 12:00 GMT, the Blue Water Guards impounded galamsey-related machines at Wassa Asikuma along the Ashire and Ankobra Rivers.
Items destroyed included four pumping machines, five Chanfang engines, several items of clothing, and makeshift shelters. Unfortunately, no arrests were made as the miners managed to flee the scene.
In another development, an operation led by the Bogoso team at Tarkwa Breman on June 20, 2025, resulted in the burning of two Chanfang machines. Two additional pumping machines were destroyed using sledgehammers. An excavator was also driven off the site, with stern warnings issued to the miners not to return.
A source at the Minerals Commission indicated that the anti-galamsey task force will continue to intensify its operations to clamp down on illegal mining, restore polluted river bodies, and reclaim degraded forest reserves in line with the Greening Ghana initiative.
By Kodwo Nyamekeh
