‘THE IMPUGNED BEHAVIOUR OF ILLEGAL MINERS’ AS RIVER ANKOBRA IS DELIBERATELY BLOCKED OF IT’S NATURAL FLOW BY GREEDY ‘GALAMSEYERS’

Story By: Kyei Manu

The destruction of the environment as as result of illegal mining activities is becoming alarming by the day as some greed illegal miners have decided to block the natural flow of ‘River Ankobra’ in order to conduct their illegal activities.

This revelation by Erastus Asare Donkor, brought to light the activities of some illegal miners who at their greedy quest, have deliberately blocked the flow of River Ankobra at multiple points in Prestea-Hemang and Awodua in the Western Region, preventing its natural progression.

According to a JoyNews report, the miners have gone beyond their boundaries and are now using excavators to mine directly in the Ankobra River Basin.
The exposé by Asare Donkor showed that, over a year of illegal mining activities, has currently turned the once-flowing river into a stagnant and a decaying river as a result of it’s stillness.

“At the Ankobra estuary, where the river meets the sea, we observed high tide pushing seawater inland, momentarily masking the river’s pollution. But 40 minutes into our boat ride upstream, the true extent of the contamination became evident.

At Awodua, near Prestea, we made a shocking discovery: illegal miners had completely blocked and contained the river for mining.

Even more alarming, at Prestea-Hemang, close to the bridge, miners have built embankments, halting the river’s flow entirely”. Erastus revealed.

The future of current and the next generation seems very bleak due to the destruction of the environment(land and rver). if quick and tough actions are not taken today to halt the illegal mining activities popularly referred to as ‘Galamsey’ in Ghana, life will be unbearable for mankind years to come.
The once-vibrant Ankobra River is now a stagnant brown and a polluted pool.

Which river is next?

Kyei Manu

I’m a Practicing Media Personnel /Freelance Journalist. The Editor/Blogger of this portal, with interest in Sports, Environmental and other Social issues that affects society.
A member of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and AIPS International.