Berekum residents protest against galamsey destruction

On Tuesday, hundreds of residents of Berekum in Ghana's Bono Region took to the streets in a peaceful protest against the devastating effects of illegal mining, also known as galamsey. The demonstration, which drew over 500 people, followed a similar protest the day before in Atronie, Sunyani East Municipality. Residents demanded urgent action from authorities to protect their environment and livelihoods.

The protest, organized by the Berekum Citizens Association and Youth Development and Accountability, aimed to appeal to President John Dramani Mahama for decisive action against illegal mining, as they had lost faith in local authorities. Communities such as Benkasa, Nanasuno, Biadan, and Amomaso, along with surrounding areas, have suffered due to illegal mining activities.

Nana Oppong Boateng, Chief of the Berekum Traditional Council, reported that vegetable farmers in Amomaso could no longer farm due to the takeover of their lands by illegal miners and the pollution of the Amomaso River, which they relied on for irrigation. Despite numerous complaints to the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, led by the Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboah, no satisfactory results had been achieved.

Nana Oppong Boateng appealed to President Mahama to personally address the situation and restore order to Berekum and its surrounding communities. The environment in Berekum has been marred by the pollution of rivers like Amoma, Nishimura, and Kura, threatening water sources crucial for farming activities in the region. In a similar vein, chiefs and residents of Atronie engaged in traditional rites, including the sacrifice of a ram, seeking divine intervention against the environmental destruction caused by illegal miners.