What began as whispers of an illegal mining hub hidden in the forest has now been unveiled as a deeply entrenched and dangerous underworld, one that thrived on exploitation, violence, and impunity.
The Western Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Nana Poku Bosompim, has shed light on the disturbing realities within Abrewa Ne Nkran-a galamsey settlement that housed over 10,000 people, many of them from across West Africa. "There were around 10,000 people living there," Nana Poku Bosompim said. "But it wasn't a community.
It was more like a slum - think Sodom and Gomorrah." Unlike a typical community, Abrewa Ne Nkran was governed not by laws or local authorities but by a brutal private militia called 'the Bulldogs'.
Their reign went largely unchecked as they imposed their own rules, controlled access to mining areas, and ruled with firearms. "The Bulldogs were running the show," Bosompim explained. "They were armed with rifles and pump-action guns.
