River Ankobrah has been turned into a stagnant pool of water by illegal miners.
The illegal miners according to a JoyNews report have blocked River Ankobra at various points, prevent it from flowing so they can mine for gold.
It is reported that the miners are now using excavators to mine directly in the heart of the Ankobrah basin, destroying the once clear river.
Illegal mining activities which have gone on in the Ankobrah basin for over one year unchecked and has resulted in the Ankobrah river becoming a stagnant pool of water which has been polluted as well.
The river was found in this state after To assess the scale and impact of these activities, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources assembled a special advisory team for a nationwide fact-finding mission to assess the impact of illegal mining on the nation.
At the Ankobra estuary, where the river meets the sea, we observed high tide pushing seawater inland, momentarily masking the river’s pollution. But 40 minutes into our boat ride upstream, the true extent of the contamination became evident.
At Ehyeamu, mining operations encroach on the river, violating buffer zone policies. A miner, who identified himself as Lopez, showed us documents for his concession but admitted to illegalities on-site.
At Awodua, near Prestea, we made a shocking discovery: illegal miners had completely blocked and contained the river for mining.
Even more alarming, at Prestea-Hemang, close to the bridge, miners have built embankments, halting the river’s flow entirely.
The once-vibrant Ankobra is now a stagnant, brown pool beneath the bridge—its waters trapped and exploited.
Watch video:
Fight Against Galamsey: Illegal miners block river Ankobra, turn it into a stagnant pool.#AMShow pic.twitter.com/K5Piae73bO
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) March 3, 2025
