Galamsey resumes along Tano River and Samereboi airstrip months after floods

Illegal mining has restarted along the Tano River and near the primary airstrip in Samereboi, Western Region, just four months after catastrophic floods inundated parts of the town. Recent footage captured by a JoyNews journalist reveals excavators actively operating along the river and in areas once mined, sparking concerns about the likelihood of another flood.

There is apprehension that this renewed activity, possibly driven by influential forces, could exacerbate the situation by disrupting natural waterways and endangering the community. Four months ago, floodwaters inundated nearly half of Samereboi, including a water pumping station run by SARMATEX to deliver water to the town. While memories of the catastrophe remain vivid among residents, opinions on the cause of the disaster are divided.

Some attribute the flooding to the displeasure of the river gods due to the neglect of annual traditional rituals, while others blame illegal mining along the Tano and Samire rivers. However, a fact-finding investigation by local experts indicates that illegal mining at Kyemiso blocked a crucial water flow pathway between the two rivers, leading water to recede towards the town.

Despite these insights, it appears that illegal mining has resumed in the same area, with drones spotting excavators working within the natural water flow of the Tano River. The renewed mining extends beyond the riverbanks, with over seven excavators actively extracting materials near the main airstrip in Samereboi township. The extensive pits and gullies left behind by these operations stretch across parts of the airstrip, threatening to advance into the town and the riverbanks.

The magnitude of these activities has raised questions about the efficacy of measures aimed at averting a repeat of the flooding and whether the authorities are fully aware of the ongoing illegal mining. Given that the community is still grappling with the aftermath of the earlier disaster, timely intervention from the relevant authorities is crucial to prevent additional obstruction of waterways and avert another potentially devastating flood in Samereboi.