Three prominent environmental and anti-mining advocacy groups, A Rocha Ghana, Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey and Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, have condemned the alleged illegal attempt to divert the Birim River at Apapam in the Eastern Region.
The groups have called for tougher punitive action including prosecution of the culprits, to deter others from making a similar illegal approach.
In a joint statement, the groups described the act as an assault on Ghana’s natural heritage and a blatant disregard for environmental laws.
The groups claim that a mining company, linked to one Emmanuel Gamah of Kwabeng, has allegedly excavated trenches and constructed a diversion channel to redirect the river, destroying a three-year-old ecological restoration site in the process.
The public uproar that greeted the news of the diversion attracted attention from officers from the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Minerals Commission and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) who moved in quickly to inspect the site.
The officials are reported to have immediately halted the operation to divert the river and subsequently arrested one person for questioning.
Galamsey on Water Bodies: A silent murder that demands justice
The advocacy groups are calling for decisive action, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Gamah and his associates for illegal mining, environmental destruction, and cultural desecration.
Additionally, the groups are demanding the restoration of the destroyed area and covering of trenches as immediate measures and subsequent investigations into possible complicity of state officials or local leaders.
The groups warned that “we cannot build a sustainable future with this kind of escalating destruction of our rivers and forests” and called on the government and traditional authorities to act decisively to end the growing impunity of illegal miners.
The Birim River, which flows from the Atewa Forest, is a vital water source for communities and industries in the Eastern Region.
However, in recent times, illegal mining activities have increased the turbidity levels of the river, making it difficult for the local inhabitants who depend on it as their source of potable water.
NAAB/SEA
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