Farmers in Wassa Amenfi Central are watching their farmlands disappear as illegal mining continues to ravage the Adomanya Forest. The miners are not only encroaching on agricultural lands but also leaving behind irreversible environmental damage.
Many farmers say they are powerless against the illegal operators, who have become more aggressive in their activities.
A group of journalists investigating the issue was recently attacked by galamsey operators, highlighting the growing dangers of confronting the illegal trade.
ABC News’ Jacob Baah, who was among those attacked, described the incident as an alarming sign of lawlessness in the sector.
The devastation of farmlands and water bodies has sparked renewed government efforts to combat illegal mining.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has vowed that no miner—regardless of political ties—will be spared if they operate in protected zones. During a tour of the Offin-Shelterbelt forest reserve, a military-police task force evicted all illegal miners in the area.
“This is where we get everything that keeps us alive,” the minister stated, condemning those destroying the land for short-term gain. He assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to protecting natural resources.
Despite these actions, environmental activists say the government is still not doing enough.
Awulah Serwah, Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, has called for an immediate state of emergency, warning that Ghana’s natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. “Ghanaians are being poisoned,” she declared, pointing to the contamination of water sources.
She also urged the government to revoke L.I. 2462, which she claims enables destructive mining activities. As farmers continue to lose their lands and water bodies are polluted, pressure is mounting for the government to act decisively before the situation spirals further out of control.
