The Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council and Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to deploy an effective real-time monitoring system to ensure comprehensive surveillance of Ghana’s water bodies.
His call follows a major anti-illegal mining operation conducted on Saturday, January 10, 2026, which led to the seizure of seven excavators and several water-pumping machines.
Meanwhile, the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd.), has warned that security forces will sustain their operations in the Amenfi areas until illegal activities are brought under control.
After months of downstream riverine operations from the Gwira area to the estuary of the Ankobra River, Brigadier General Whajah lamented that regular patrols had not yielded the desired results.
“Over the past several months, our focus has been on the Ankobra River from Gwira Wiaso to the estuary. However, we have realized we are not achieving the desired impact. This has led us to move further upstream. What we have seen from Tarkwa Bremang in the Amenfi Central District is a clear indication that there remains a great deal of work to be done,” he said.
In line with this observation, a joint operation by the Second Infantry Battalion and the Western Naval Command was launched at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday in the Amenfi Central District.
Significant evidence of environmental destruction was discovered along the Tarkwa–Bremang road, where illegal miners had indiscriminately taken over large portions of land, leaving electric poles dangerously unsupported.
On the same stretch—barely a metre from the main road—one of the mining sites appeared close to collapse, raising fears that the road itself could cave in. This activity continued despite warning signposts erected by the landowners, the Awuah family, and repeated complaints from residents.
“We do not support what these miners are doing here. Mining our roads to this extent is unacceptable, but we feel powerless to stop it. They have cut off our roads, making it impossible to transport cocoa from our farms. That is why we are so grateful for these operations and urge that they continue,” a resident said.
While the Second Infantry Battalion carried out ground operations—burning makeshift structures and securing equipment—the Western Naval Command encountered difficulties launching their patrol boat due to heavy siltation of the Ankobra River.
Sections that once flowed with deep water had turned shallow and muddy, forcing the team to use a small wooden canoe instead. It was also observed that miners had diverted polluted waste directly into the river.
Brigadier General Whajah expressed deep concern over the extent of damage and advised residents to avoid the river temporarily.
“We intend to sail from Tarkwa Bremang to Prestea, and it has been shocking to witness the scale of devastation. Mining runoff is flowing directly into the Ankobra River, and in some places, the river has been blocked entirely. Although we will continue our operations until satisfied with progress, I strongly advise residents of Amenfi Central and Amenfi West to stay away from the river for now,” he warned.
The operation, which lasted several hours, resulted in the retrieval of seven excavators and seven water-pumping machines from illegal mining sites along the Ankobra River.
In a related development, Regional Minister Joseph Nelson reiterated the need for technology-driven monitoring to tackle the problem at its source.
“Tackling illegal activities downstream fails to address the root of the problem. To truly confront the challenges facing the Ankobra River, we need a comprehensive, real-time monitoring system along its entire length. Only with complete visibility can we effectively manage and protect our water bodies,” he stated.
He suggested the deployment of drone surveillance systems to monitor activities both upstream and downstream.
“By implementing such a system, we can gain a full picture of the river’s challenges and address them more strategically,” he added.
onuaonline.com
