The Bono Region, one of Ghana’s key food baskets, is facing the destructive effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Once-productive farmlands, lush forest reserves, and vital vegetative cover are disappearing at an alarming rate, while water bodies and local livelihoods are under siege.
Rivers and streams that have for decades served as reliable water sources for communities are now heavily polluted with mercury, cyanide, and other toxic chemicals used by illegal miners to extract gold.
According to health experts, consuming such contaminated water exposes people to skin ailments, rashes, and gastrointestinal disorders, among other serious health complications.
Banda district under threat
The Banda District presents one of the most worrying cases. Illegal mining in this area is not only devastating the local ecosystem but is also threatening the Bui hydroelectric dam with sedimentation. Given the dam’s strategic importance as a national energy asset, the risk is particularly alarming.
The district, which is also a major cashew-producing hub, is seeing its economic potential eroded as illegal miners encroach upon and destroy cashew farms.
Beyond the environmental destruction, the livelihoods of many farming households are being undermined, pushing them into economic uncertainty.
Firm action from RCC
Faced with these threats, Bono Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboa, has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining.
His determination was demonstrated in a recent high-profile anti-galamsey operation targeting “Operator,” a fast-growing illegal mining settlement in the Banda District.
On August 4, 2025, a police-military task force—acting under his directive—moved in during the early hours to dismantle the entire settlement.
In total, 31 illegal miners were arrested, more than 150 makeshift structures used as shelters for miners and their families were destroyed, and 11 excavators, 16 motorbikes, 10 tricycles, several “changfang” machines, and gallons of fuel were seized or destroyed. The operation effectively displaced over 1,000 settlers from the site.
Mr. Akwaboa emphasised that the exercise was necessary to protect the region’s environment and economy, and that it was conducted without political bias or interference.
“We are committed to supporting President John Dramani Mahama’s government in ending galamsey,” he stated, adding that similar operations will be extended to other emerging hotspots.
Displaced voices
While many welcomed the crackdown, some of those displaced expressed distress over the sudden loss of their homes and livelihoods.
“I feel sad because I migrated from Techiman five years ago to find something to support my family,” said Madam Abiba, a drinking spot operator. “What we expect from the government now is job opportunities so we can start a new life.”
Alhaji, a shop owner whose supermarket business collapsed as a result of the demolition, also questioned how he would recover. “It’s not just about leaving here—it’s about how to survive afterwards,” he lamented.
Next steps
The Regional Minister has made clear that the crackdown is just the first step. The Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) plans to submit a comprehensive report to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, seeking technical guidance for reclaiming degraded lands and restoring vegetative cover.
Reclamation work, Mr. Akwaboa explained, will be critical to reversing the environmental damage and restoring the area’s agricultural productivity. “We remain committed to ensuring that these lands can once again sustain farming and provide livelihoods,” he assured.
The bigger picture
Illegal mining has long been recognised as one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges. In the Bono Region, the stakes are particularly high given its role in national food production, forestry conservation, and hydropower generation.
For meaningful and lasting change, experts stress that law enforcement must be sustained and applied impartially, with offenders prosecuted regardless of their political or social standing. Beyond enforcement, alternative livelihood programmes will be necessary to prevent displaced miners from returning to the trade.
As the fight continues, the Bono Regional Minister’s bold intervention in Banda stands out as a decisive example of political will in action—one that, if sustained and replicated, could significantly curb galamsey and its harmful consequences across the region.
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