Illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, have engulfed the main Ayamfuri-Wassa Akropong road in the Western Region, with miners blatantly defying Ghana’s mining regulations.

The road, which serves as a critical link between communities, has been overtaken by large-scale unauthorized mining operations.

In a report by JoyNews' Environmental Journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, the situation has reached an alarming state, particularly in towns such as Wassa Ntwentwena, Gyapa, and Wassa Adiemra. These areas have transformed into makeshift mining hubs, despite clear provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which prohibits mining within fifty meters of public roads and in residential areas.

The once vital Dunkwa-Ayamfuri road is now lined with massive pits and mining machinery, as excavators continue to dig through the terrain. Local authorities appear to have turned a blind eye to these illegal activities, allowing the situation to escalate. In towns like Wassa Dadieso and Gyapa, illegal mining operations seem to have the tacit approval of community leaders, Mr. Donkor noted.

Miners along the Ayamfuri-Akropong route have not only dug up the road but have also set up artisanal washing bays where gold is openly processed. When confronted by journalists about their unlawful activities, the miners defended their actions as a necessary means of survival.

"Mind your own business. Has anyone stopped you from working? Why should we stop? This is what we do, and we have nothing to do with the government," one miner retorted when asked about their defiance of the law.

Another miner echoed a similar sentiment, arguing that illegal mining was a better alternative to engaging in crime. "What should we do, pull guns and rob people for money? We work hard for our daily bread. We don’t want to steal, but we have no other options," he explained.

Despite concerns over the environmental and health risks associated with their operations, many miners downplayed these issues.

One miner dismissed warnings about the hazardous effects of toxic substances used in mining, stating, "The person who started mining in this town is over 100 years old and still alive. We’ve been doing this for decades, and no one has ever had any health problems from galamsey. From our leaders' time to ours, we’ve seen no one fall sick from it."