The Western Regional Anti-Galamsey Taskforce has launched a sweeping assault on illegal mining operations along the Ankobra River, in one of its most aggressive actions yet to protect Ghana’s endangered water bodies.
In a coordinated dawn operation, the taskforce torched 87 makeshift wooden structures—known to serve as bunkhouses for illegal miners—and destroyed dozens of chanfang machines used to dredge and pollute the river.
Key equipment seized included six excavators, six water pumps, a generator, and an outboard motor, all believed to have been used in unauthorized mining activities.
The operation, according to security officials, was based on weeks of intelligence and aerial surveillance that confirmed a surge in illegal mining activity contaminating the Ankobra River. Officials say the raid is part of a broader and sustained campaign to reclaim the region’s natural resources and combat the environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
“This is just the beginning,” a taskforce spokesperson warned. “Any group or individual engaged in illegal mining in this region should expect similar action. We will not relent until the Ankobra River and other water bodies are restored to their natural state.”
The government’s renewed offensive is being coordinated through the Western Regional Security Council, which has vowed to maintain relentless pressure on illegal miners and their collaborators.
While the crackdown has been welcomed by some local residents who are concerned about the long-term environmental toll of galamsey, others are urging the government to quickly introduce alternative employment opportunities for youth displaced by the raids.
“We support the fight against galamsey,” a resident of a nearby community said, “but people need jobs. If not, they’ll return to the river again.”
The Regional Security Council has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s ecological heritage and has called on traditional leaders, communities, and the media to actively support the anti-galamsey campaign.
As the environmental cost of illegal mining continues to rise, the battle for Ghana’s rivers is intensifying—and the Ankobra raid signals that authorities are willing to take it to the next level.
