2 weeks Ago By News Ghana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.com.gh/illegal-mining-threatens-bui-dam-integrity-as-ghana-intensifies-crackdown-on-galamsey/Ghana’s Bui Dam, a critical hydroelectric facility constructed at a cost of $600 million, faces mounting risks from illegal small-scale mining activities, according to National Petroleum Authority CEO Godwin Edudzi Tameklo.
Speaking on The Key Points on TV3, Tameklo warned that galamsey operations are compromising the dam’s structural integrity, underscoring broader environmental and economic threats posed by unchecked mining.“Bui Dam is getting compromised..
.this is a dam we used $600 million to construct,” Tameklo stated, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the crisis. He expressed confidence in President John Mahama’s resolve to combat the issue, noting that security agencies are actively dismantling illegal mining networks.
“People want more action, but I can assure you these agencies are not sleeping on the job,” he added, acknowledging public frustration over the pace of progress.The remarks follow a recent military-led raid in the Western Region’s Subri Forest Reserve, where authorities destroyed makeshift camps in Abrewa Ninkrane, a notorious galamsey enclave. Western Regional Forestry Manager Nana Kwabena Bosompim reported that the operation uncovered sprawling illegal settlements, complete with brothels and business centers, housing an estimated 10,000 miners far exceeding initial projections.
Many miners are suspected to be foreign nationals from Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.“We had to burn equipment and flush out miners, as arresting such a large group was logistically impossible,” Bosompim explained. A task force will remain stationed in the area for two weeks to prevent miners from returning.
He also raised alarms about rising prostitution linked to mining hubs, noting, “Young girls now prefer making money here over attending school.”The crackdown has reignited debates about Ghana’s capacity to curb galamsey, which activists argue reflects systemic governance failures. Senyo Hosi, Convener of the One Ghana Movement, labeled Ghana a “failing state” during the same TV3 program, citing armed galamsey operatives who reportedly open fire on security personnel.
He demanded investigations into how foreign nationals established unmapped, autonomous communities within forest reserves, calling it a “national security threat.”“Foreigners infiltrating our land to create their own settlements is a disgrace,” Hosi asserted. “The president must act decisively this is a test of leadership.
”The escalating crisis highlights tensions between environmental preservation and economic survival in mining-dependent regions. While the government has intensified enforcement, critics argue that corruption, unemployment, and weak border controls perpetuate the cycle of illegal mining. The Bui Dam’s vulnerability underscores the high stakes: beyond ecological damage, compromised infrastructure could destabilize energy supplies for millions.
As authorities grapple with these challenges, the path forward demands not only robust enforcement but also sustainable alternatives for communities reliant on mining. With elections approaching, the galamsey crisis is poised to remain a litmus test for Ghana’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and national security. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, News Ghana, https://newsghana.
com.gh/illegal-mining-threatens-bui-dam-integrity-as-ghana-intensifies-crackdown-on-galamsey/.
