Chinese and Ghanaian-led illegal gold miners have encroached upon a 261-acre tract within the Breman-Adomanya forest in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region, leading to the destruction of timber, cocoa, and rubber plantations, as well as the contamination of the nearby River Tano.
Despite local police awareness of these illicit operations, the miners continue unabated and on Sunday, February 23, attacked Citi News’ Western Regional Correspondent, Akwasi Agyei Annim while he was documenting the environmental damage.
The assailants damaged his equipment in the presence of a police escort.
The incident escalated when a security guard alerted the miners to the journalists’ presence. The miners, led by one Yaw Kurankyi—allegedly responsible for selling the land to the illegal operators—confronted the media team, seizing their camera, microphones, and Annim’s mobile phone.
Kurankyi verbally abused Annim and used his vehicle to block the journalists’ departure, detaining them until 7 PM.
The illegal miners demanded the deletion of all recorded material before permitting their release. It was only after additional police arrived that the journalists were allowed to leave, agreeing to erase the footage at the Asankrangwa District Police Station.
Subsequently, Kurankyi was arrested, and statements were taken from the journalists.
Local resident Isaac Bekye expressed frustration over the lack of intervention from traditional and law enforcement authorities regarding the illegal mining activities.
He pointed to the extensive environmental degradation, including the destruction of cocoa farms, timber, food crops, and water bodies.
Bekye noted that complaints to authorities have been ignored and that those opposing the miners face threats of violence.
He urged the government, particularly the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, to deploy security forces to halt the ongoing environmental destruction.
When contacted for information on the legal status of the mining companies involved, Asankrangwa Minerals Commission Officer, Clement Adzormah, declined to comment and referred inquiries to the Commission’s headquarters in Accra.
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