Galamsey Archives - Wontumi Online

23 Jan

The ‘Galamsey’ Menace: A Ticking Time Bomb

CUD WontumiBusinessGalamsey

The recent attack on AngloGold Ashanti's concession by armed illegal miners, resulting in the death of seven people is a stark reminder of the galamsey menace that has plagued Ghana's mining industry for years. This brazen attack was not an isolated incident. The company had repeatedly complained about the encroachment of illegal miners on its concession, who bore arms and threatened workers. It reminds us of a similar attack on February 8, 2016, which led to the death of the company’s Communications Director, John Owusu. The Obuasi mine, in particular, has been a hotbed of galamsey activity, with armed miners…

16 Oct

Galamsey: Parliament Will Review L.I. 2462 Once Formally Presented – Afenyo-Markin

wontumionlineNewsAfenyo Markin, Galamsey, L.I. 2462

Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has clarified that Parliament has not yet received Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, officially titled the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations 2022, which is currently under consideration for revocation. There has been growing pressure for the repeal of L.I. 2462, with various groups, including Organised Labour, pushing for its removal to aid the national effort to combat environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. In a circular dated October 10, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, stated that the L.I. had been forwarded to Parliament for action and…

15 Oct

I Wish Deployment Of Military To Combat Galamsey Will Be Consistent – Cwesi Oteng

wontumionlineShowbizCwesi Oteng, Galamsey

Gospel musician Cwesi Oteng has suggested that measures put in place to help solve the galamsey situation should be intensified. He said in an interview on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z that he was surprised the illegal miners could carry out their activities without getting apprehended. “It’s like the system has closed its mind to the situation. Perhaps some of the wealthy [people ] that do these things also support government. I don’t know how the forces of the land have not taken action,” he told the host Kwame Dadzie. Cwesi intimated that even though the military has been deployed to some mining sites to help…

14 Oct

Nine Galamseyers Arrested, Over 50 Changfans Destroyed In Anti-Galamsey Raid

wontumionlineNewsGalamsey

Nine suspected illegal miners have been arrested, and 23 changfans destroyed along the Ankobra River at Prestea Nakaba in the Western Region by the government’s anti-galamsey task force, Operation Halt. The arrests were part of a larger operation involving over 100 soldiers deployed last week as part of the government’s renewed efforts to combat illegal mining, following increasing pressure from professional bodies and civil society organizations. Illegal mining, or galamsey, has been responsible for widespread environmental destruction, particularly along Ghana’s rivers. The task force’s operations have so far targeted illegal mining activities in key water bodies across the Eastern, Central,…

11 Oct

Dormaa Youth Arrest Over 10 ‘Galamseyers’

wontumionlineNewsDormaa, Galamsey

Youth in Dormaa Ahenkro have taken matters into their own hands by arresting more than 10 illegal miners (galamseyers) operating in the area. The action, carried out recently, is part of a community-driven effort to combat the destructive activity of illegal mining in the region. The move has received strong backing from Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu, who has consistently spoken out against galamsey. He reaffirmed his stance, stating that illegal mining will not be tolerated in his jurisdiction, and vowed to support efforts to protect the environment and the livelihoods of the community. Those arrested have been handed…

10 Oct

Galamsey: Two Persons Shot During A Clash Between Chinese Nationals And Sekyere Krobo Youth

wontumionlineNewsGalamsey

Two individuals have sustained injuries after being shot during a violent clash between the youth of Sekyere Krobo and some Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in the area. The two injured individuals sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently fighting for their lives at the Ahmadiyya Hospital in Daboase in the Wassa East District. According to a report by UTV, monitored by GhanaWeb on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the destruction caused by illegal miners on the river prompted the local youth to take action and halt their activities. The report indicates that upon reaching the site, the youth confronted the…

09 Oct

President Akufo-Addo Reaffirms Commitment To Curb Illegal Mining

wontumionlineNewsGalamsey, Organised Labour

The President of the Republic, Nana Akufo Addo, has assured members of the Organised Labor, and Ghanaians at large to combat illegal mining widely known as galamsey, after holding a meeting with the association. This response comes after the Organised Labor, released a press statement calling for the Government to halt illegal mining. Read statement below....

09 Oct

Don’t Politicize Galamsey Fight – Former President Kufuor

wontumionlineNewsFormer President John Agyekum Kufuor, Galamsey

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has stated that illegal miners, or “galamsey” operators, are not affiliated with political parties but are rather ordinary citizens engaging in the controversial activity. He made this remark during a phone interview on Angel TV’s Morning Show with host Okatakyie Afrifa. In his candid response to the ongoing debate on illegal mining, Kufuor emphasized that those involved in galamsey are mainly young, educated citizens and local chiefs. He criticized the chiefs for accepting payments from the miners to allow them to operate, despite knowing the environmental impact of their actions. Now, as galamsey reaches a critical point,…

09 Oct

Akufo-Addo Delivers on Galamsey Fight – Yaw Adomako Baafi

wontumionlineFeatured, News, TrendingAkufo-Addo, Galamsey

Former Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Amoako Baafi, has defended President Nana Akufo-Addo's record on combating illegal mining (galamsey), saying he has not disappointed Ghanaians. Speaking on Movement TV/Wontumi Radio's morning show with Gordon Asare Bediako, Baafi praised Akufo-Addo's efforts to address the galamsey menace, highlighting the training of responsible miners and improvement of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) office under the NPP government. Adomako Baafi also commended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for revealing the NPP's achievements and plans for Ghana's development. He expressed willingness to join organized labor demonstrations to understand their concerns. Baafi criticized former…

09 Oct

NDC Fueling Organized Labour Protests- Salam Mustapha Exposes Their Hidden Agenda

wontumionlineFeatured, News, TrendingGalamsey, NDC, Organized labour

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused Organized Labour of having a hidden agenda, claiming their recent actions against galamsey are actually driven by politics. Specifically, the NPP alleges that Organized Labour's threats of a national strike and vocal opposition to galamsey are aligned with the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) 2024 election strategy. National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Salam Mustapha, points to a leaked document titled "Winning 2024 And Beyond" as evidence of the NDC's plan to exploit critical issues like galamsey for political gain. He questions why Organized Labour has suddenly taken an interest in galamsey after years…