Report by Daniel Donkor
Residents, traditional authorities and youth groups in parts of the Bono Region have staged a protest against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, in the Amomaso and Benkasa communities.
The demonstration took place on Thursday in Berekum, where participants marched through the town’s principal streets dressed in red and black. They called for an end to what they describe as the growing spread of unregulated mining in the area.
Protesters later presented a petition to government authorities and the Minerals Commission, urging immediate intervention.
The petition raises concerns about the potential impact of illegal mining on the environment, including the destruction of water bodies and farmlands within the Berekum Traditional Area.
Some demonstrators carried placards with messages such as “Galamsey breeds incurable diseases” and “Berekum is not ready to import drinking water.” Others warned against political interference in efforts to address the issue.
Speaking to journalists, the Chief of Kato and Wirempehene of the Berekum Traditional Area, Nana Owusu Ansah, said the community was not opposed to mining but rejected activities that harm the environment and local livelihoods.
“We are not against mining as a legitimate economic activity,” he said. “But we will not accept any form of mining that disregards our traditions, destroys our environment, and endangers the lives of our people.”
He added that protecting ancestral lands remained a priority for the community.
The petition, addressed to stakeholders including Members of Parliament for Berekum East and West, local assemblies, and the Berekum Traditional Council, calls for an immediate halt to the issuance of mining permits in Amomaso, Benkasa and nearby areas.
Some youth leaders at the protest said they would continue their actions if authorities failed to respond, warning that they would resist attempts to introduce mining equipment into the area.
“We will not sit idle and watch our future be destroyed,” one youth leader said.
Residents also shared personal accounts of the impact of illegal mining. A 90-year-old farmer, Yaa Kraa, said her farmland had been affected.
“Galamsey has destroyed what we depend on to survive,” she said. “We are suffering. The government must act now.”
Receiving the petition on behalf of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Berekum East, Simon Ampaabeng Kyeremeh, said he would convey the concerns of residents to the appropriate authorities.
He assured the demonstrators that their concerns would be addressed.
The Minerals Commission has yet to respond publicly to the petition.
