Galamsey Crackdown Sparks Tensions As NDC Officials Resist Arrest

A government advisory team’s mission to assess and curb illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana’s Western and Central regions was met with strong resistance as they immobilized and seized mining equipment. The team’s actions, aimed at stopping environmental destruction caused by galamsey, triggered heated confrontations with illegal miners and some National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials.

During their operation, the advisory team confiscated pumping machines, generators, and excavators, while also destroying Changfan machines at illegal mining sites in Anwia, Prestea, and Dunkwa. However, in Dunkwa, tensions boiled over when miners, led by the NDC Constituency Chairman, mobilized against the team. The chairman, backed by furious miners and residents, argued that he had not been consulted before the raid.

Protesters, many of whom were directly involved in mining along the Offin River, blocked roads and threatened a standoff with the heavily armed security forces escorting the team.

At Anwia, the effects of galamsey were evident—damaged roads and nearly collapsed concrete storm drains underscored the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining. In response, the advisory team dismantled mining equipment and set unauthorized mining camps ablaze.

A similar operation in Nkroful, near a technical school, resulted in the seizure of multiple pumps and generators. In Baduwa No. 2, Upper Denkyira East District, illegal mining along the Offin River was identified as a major environmental threat, causing frequent floods and devastating farmlands.

Residents expressed frustration over the government’s failure to completely eradicate galamsey, highlighting the ongoing challenge of enforcing environmental laws.

The situation in Dunkwa took a dramatic turn when the advisory team, conducting an aerial survey, uncovered a massive illegal excavation dangerously close to the town’s main bridge. As they assessed the damage, an enraged mob stormed the site, demanding that the team leave immediately. The confrontation escalated, with a crowd gathering near the bridge and openly challenging the security forces.

Despite the hostility, the government team, led by Rear Admiral (Rtd) Moses Beick-Baffour, remained committed to their mission of informing national policy on illegal mining and strengthening future enforcement efforts.