The chiefs and people of Atronie in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region have issued a strong warning over the continued destruction caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, threatening to seek the intervention of their local deity if authorities fail to act.
The Atronie Traditional Authority says repeated complaints to the police, the municipal assembly and other relevant institutions have yet to result in meaningful action against illegal miners operating in the area.
Nana Yaw Ampofo, Secretary to the Atronie Traditional Authority, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the traditional authority may be forced to resort to traditional spiritual measures to stop the activities if the government does not intervene urgently.
“We are going to invoke the assistance and anger of our local deity to stop the galamseyers, and that will be disastrous,” Nana Ampofo said in an interview at Atronie.
He described the local shrine as “unforgiving” and said the traditional authority was informing the government in advance because, once the deity’s anger was invoked, it would be difficult to reverse the consequences.
According to him, illegal mining activities in the area are causing extensive damage to the environment, including the destruction of farmlands, crops, vegetation and forest cover.
He said the activities were also threatening water bodies in the community, with the Amoma River suffering significant pollution and degradation.
Nana Ampofo identified the Amoma River as the main source of potable drinking water for the people of Atronie and warned that continued illegal mining could have serious consequences for the community’s access to clean water.
He said the chiefs had already reported the activities to the appropriate authorities but expressed disappointment that no effective action had been taken to stop the miners.
The traditional authority is therefore calling for immediate government intervention to protect the community’s farmlands and water resources and prevent further environmental destruction.
Nana Ampofo warned that if the authorities continued to ignore the concerns of the chiefs and residents, the traditional authority would have no option but to invoke the assistance of the Atronie local deity to confront the illegal mining activities.
He also noted that the people of Atronie owed allegiance to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
During a visit to the area, the Ghana News Agency observed excavation and chanfang machines, mining equipment and makeshift structures at the Jinijini illegal mining site.
The miners had reportedly also constructed access roads through farmlands leading to the mining area, destroying crops and agricultural land.
The situation has heightened concerns among residents and traditional leaders, who fear that continued illegal mining could cause further damage to the environment and threaten the community’s main sources of livelihood and drinking water.
The chiefs are therefore urging the government and relevant state institutions to act swiftly to halt the illegal mining activities before the situation deteriorates further.
