Illegal mining activities, known as galamsey, in the Asemkrom area of the Western North Region, have wreaked havoc on local cocoa farms and severely polluted the Tano and Boin rivers.
The once-thriving farmlands and clean water sources have been drastically affected by these illegal operations, leaving farmers and residents in distress.
A resident, identified as Isaac, described the devastating impact of galamsey on their lives, highlighting the long-term damage it has caused to both the environment and the community. "The piece of land you see here used to be a cocoa farm.
As I speak with you right now, an excavator was here to destroy everything.
We also do not have any pipe that serves us water and they are destroying the only source of water we have. "Down there, there are about five excavators that destroy the river as well.
So, for us, we have dedicated ourselves to stop galamsey in this community," he stated.
He continued: "They sometimes come here with guns.
The Chinese nationals who come here if you try to go near them, they could kill you.
They even told us that there were some security personnel with them." Read Also… Channel One TV to embark on 'I Stand Against Galamsey campaign' today