- Illegal mining activities have severely polluted the Owere River
- Mining operations are taking place dangerously close to residential areas
- Local authorities and environmental agencies have been criticized for their failure to address the issue
Residents of Konongo in the Ashanti region are calling for immediate intervention as illegal mining operations threaten to ruin a vital water source and create widespread outrage in the community.
Mining activities, situated near the busy Kumasi-Accra highway, are contaminating the Owere River, which provides water for Konongo and neighboring areas.
The use of heavy machinery, such as excavators, is occurring dangerously close to homes, churches, and local businesses.
The Head Pastor of the New Life Church of Light voiced strong objections, emphasizing the severe impact on the community. Meanwhile, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minerals Commission were reportedly only made aware of a dredging project by the Asante Akim Central Assembly, with no knowledge of the ongoing mining.
Residents are increasingly disillusioned, pointing to ongoing damage to water bodies and farmlands caused by these illegal activities. The area has been cordoned off to hide the scale of the destruction from passersby on the highway.
Additionally, a section of the highway near the mining site is collapsing and has remained unrepaired despite repeated requests for action. The situation has ignited serious concerns about the government’s capacity to regulate mining and safeguard environmental resources.
In response, residents are urgently demanding that authorities take decisive steps to stop the mining operations and restore their crucial water source.
