Calls for the removal of the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Konongo are intensifying, as illegal mining, known as galamsey, continues to ravage the Ashanti region town.

Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini, has demanded President Akufo-Addo immediately sack the DCE for failing to curb the destructive mining activities that are devastating the community’s water sources.

In an interview on TV3’s Ghana Tonight Show, the Tamale North Member of Parliament said, “How come the District Chief Executive is still at post 24 hours after this came to light? The president and the government must be ashamed. There have been several instances of embarrassment as far as this menace is concerned.”

Galamsey operations along the Kumasi-Accra highway have polluted the Owere River, a vital water source for Konongo and its surrounding areas. The mining, happening alarmingly close to residential neighborhoods, businesses, and churches, has stirred anger among locals.

Heavy machinery such as excavators is being used with little concern for its impact on the town. "The mining is wreaking havoc on the community," said the Head Pastor of the New Life Church of Light, voicing his frustration over the situation.

Authorities from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission have claimed they were only informed of a dredging project initiated by the Asante Akim Central Assembly and were unaware of the galamsey operations now unfolding. This lack of oversight and transparency has further fueled public outrage.

Residents are frustrated by the continuing destruction of water bodies and farmlands, pointing to what they see as negligence by the authorities.

Many accuse local leaders of concealing the extent of the damage by obstructing the view from the main highway. Additionally, a collapsing section of the highway near the mining site has gone unrepaired for years, despite numerous complaints.

As the situation worsens, concerns are mounting about the government's ability to regulate mining and protect the environment.