Anti-galamsey Taskforce in Western Region Remains Resolute As 'Galamseyers' Employ the Supernatural
- A Togbe Nana Benin shrine is believed to be offering protection to the illegal miners against any forces against them
- Many along the Ankobra River banks rely on the water for daily needs, which they believe makes them more productive
- The anti-galamsey task force stated that it would not rest until there was a significant improvement in the river's health
The average African is very religious, attaching spiritual significance to every aspect of life.
This also translates to the activities of many people, including those involved in illegal mining.
Source: Facebook
It is therefore not surprising that during an operation on the Ankobra River by personnel from the Western Regional National Security and the Western Naval Command, a shrine dedicated to a river goddess, Togbe Nana Benin, was discovered.
Ankobra River 'juju man' flees task force
The priest, however, took to his heels and fled his post upon learning of the task force's arrival in the area.
In a room allegedly used for purification rituals, the national anti-illegal mining operations team found a list prescribing ritual items for a client.
This list includes a sheep, a goat, six fowls, a guinea fowl, 3,000 cedis worth of cowries, and 300 cedis in cash.
Near the shrine, two sheep and a chicken were tied to a branch, presumably awaiting sacrifice.
Task force Captain Nana Kwaku Owusu-Domme questioned why the 'juju' priest had fled.
“This room is for the mallam. The juju man has escaped. You should have waited for us. We have only one God. You have run away. Next time, when we come, he and the juju, we will burn them all," he said.
Asked if encounters of the spiritual kind intimidated members of the task force, the captain admitted that they had seen a lot, but remained committed to rooting out illegal mining operations.
"These galamseyers come here for juju to allegedly enable them to get more gold by destroying the river bodies. We will destroy everything we see here and wherever the so-called god is, we are ready to meet them."
Ankobra River remains vital for residents
In spite of the high turbidity and known dangers of the Ankobra River, with some even defecating in it, many residents along its banks rely on it for their daily needs.
Daavi Akorfa, who sells banku from a makeshift stall to illegal miners in the area, spoke with YEN.com.gh.
"We fetch this dirty water and add alum to purify it before we can use it," she said.
After hours of patrol on the Ankobra River, we observe a shift in tactics by the illegal miners.
Meanwhile, according to Brigadier General Musah Whajah, the galamseyers have moved their primary operations away from the top of the river and its banks and are now channelling wastewater directly into the river, a method that is worsening the pollution.
He vowed that the anti-galamsey task force would not rest until a significant improvement in the health of the Ankobra River was noticed.
Even as this operation was underway, a simultaneous land-based operation was also underway on shore at the Gwira Enclave, led by a team from the national anti-illegal mining operations secretariat, NAIMOS, led by Captain Owusu-Domme.
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12 miners arrested in Tarkwa Nsuaem crackdown
YEN.com.gh also previously reported that galamsey severely affected the operations of Ghana Rubber Estate Limited, destroying over six hectares of rubber plantations and 2,000 trees.
To address the crisis, Brigadier General Whajah called for stronger community engagement to raise awareness, with 12 suspects arrested in a recent joint operation in Tarkwa Nsuaem.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
