The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, together with A Rocha Ghana, have demanded the arrest and prosecution of those behind massive ecological destruction at Apapam in the Eastern Region.
In a joint statement sighted by The Chronicle, the groups expressed grave concern over environmental disorder unfolding in the area, following an inspection visit by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Officers from the WRC, Minerals Commission and NIB visited the site after public alerts. The NIB picked up an on-site security operative for questioning.
However, the inspection also revealed that the miner had bulldozed through a three-year-old ecological restoration site, destroying native species such as Mahogany, Emire and Ofram.
The CSOs condemned what they described as an attempted illegal diversion of the sacred Birim River by a mining company operating in the area.
They urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), WRC and the Minerals Commission to “move beyond suspension” and ensure that perpetrators face full prosecution for illegal mining, environmental destruction and cultural desecration.
“Perpetrators must be compelled to cover up all trenches and fully restore the destroyed plantation site. Authorities must investigate any potential complicity at any level, including the mining company and all leaders involved.
“We cannot build a sustainable future with this kind of escalating destruction of life-supporting systems, like rivers and forests, as exhibited by this egregious action,” the statement read.
The groups stressed that Ghana needs a decisive turning point in efforts to address the growing impunity of miners encroaching on rivers and forest reserves, particularly within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
They further described the incident as an “unconscionable assault” on Ghana’s natural heritage, especially at a time when the country is mourning the loss of eight government officials and military personnel who died in the line of duty in anti-galamsey operations.
The statement identified the mining entity as belonging to a miner operating from Kwabeng. According to the groups, the company had actively excavated trenches and constructed a diversion channel to redirect the Birim River at a sensitive point where it exits the ecologically critical Atewa Forest Reserve.
The groups lamented the inability of state agencies to halt the activity at its early stages, insisting that suspension was not enough and that the government and traditional authorities must act decisively to prevent this growing impunity in the Akyem Abuakwa area.”
