By Josephine Kekeli Amuzu
Illegal mining activities have ravaged 261 acres of land in the Breman-Adomanya forest area of the Wassa Amenfi West District, Western Region. The destruction, led by Chinese and Ghanaian galamsey operators, has wiped out timber trees, cocoa, and rubber farms while polluting the nearby River Tano.
Despite widespread knowledge of their activities, including among local police, the illegal miners continue to operate unchecked. When Citi News’ Western Regional Correspondent, Akwasi Agyei Annim, arrived at the site to document the devastation, he was met with hostility.
Annim and his team were filming when a security guard alerted the miners. The galamsey operators quickly mobilized, attacking the journalists and forcefully seizing their camera, microphones, and Annim’s mobile phone.
Shockingly, the assault happened in full view of a four-member police escort assigned to protect the journalists. Yaw Kurankyi, a key figure suspected of selling the land to the illegal miners, led the attack. He not only hurled insults at Annim but also used his pickup truck to block the journalists’ exit, detaining them until 7 PM.
The miners demanded that all recordings be deleted before allowing the journalists to leave. It was only after police reinforcements arrived that the journalists were freed—with the assurance that they would delete the footage at the Asankrangwa District Police Station. Upon arrival, Yaw Kurankyi was arrested, and statements were taken from the journalists.
Isaac Bekye, a concerned resident, highlighted the ongoing environmental destruction and accused local authorities of turning a blind eye to the illegal activities.
“What is happening on Adomanya lands currently is not good at all. Illegal mining operators have destroyed a vast area of 261 acres of land, including cocoa, trees, food crops, and rivers. Some of us have complained and reported over and over to authorities but to no avail,” he lamented.
“Traditional authorities and other authorities have failed to listen to us. The galamseyers chase us away with guns and cutlasses whenever we come here. We plead with operators, including Dabena and Egbegee companies, to stop the destruction,” he stated.
He called on the government to take decisive action:
“We voted for change to protect our land and environment. We urge the government, especially the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, to send in heavy security forces to stop this destruction.”
When Citi News contacted the Asankrangwa Minerals Commission Officer, Clement Adzormah, on the status of Ebegee Mining Company Limited and Dabena Mining Company who are behind this galamsey devastation and attack on the journalists, Clement Adzormah, refused to provide information on whether or not they have permit to mine and if he has come across those two operators in his monitoring. He rather directed for such information to be secured from his Headquarters in Accra.
