Report by Daniel Donkor
Residents of the Berekum East and West Municipalities in Ghana’s Bono Region are set to stage a major demonstration on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, against illegal mining widely known as galamsey as outrage intensifies over the destruction of farmlands and the contamination of key water bodies in Biadan, Benkasa and Amomaso.
Dubbed “Stop The Illegal Mining Now,” the protest is being organised by Berekum Citizens and Associates in collaboration with the Berekumman Citizens Association and the Berekum Youth for Development and Accountability, alongside farmers and residents whose livelihoods are increasingly under threat.
Organisers say the demonstration seeks to compel authorities to immediately halt illegal mining operations and ensure that any mining activity in the area is conducted responsibly by licensed and regulated companies.
For these largely agrarian communities, the stakes are existential. Residents warn that the continued degradation of fertile land could trigger severe food shortages if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking in an interview with the GBC, the Chairman of Berekum Citizens and Associates and Dabehene of the Berekum Traditional Area, Nana Oppong Boateng Dartey II, said the planned protest follows an earlier demonstration held about three months ago which failed to produce meaningful results.
“We demonstrated about three months ago and petitioned the Minerals Commission, the Regional Minister, the MCE, the DCE, the Traditional Council and other relevant authorities. What is happening in Berekum is a calamity, yet there has been no decisive response,” he said.
According to him, authorities have maintained that the ongoing activities constitute “responsible mining”a claim residents strongly dispute.
“They say it is responsible mining, but we do not see any responsibility in what is happening to our lands. That is why we are returning to the streets to demand action,” he stressed.
Residents say the environmental degradation has escalated rapidly within a short period, with rivers that once sustained farming and daily life now heavily polluted and unsuitable for use.
“Just three months ago, people could use water from the Amuma River, Nshimura and Kura for irrigation, watering vegetables and even for cooking. Today, the water has turned brown, milky and completely unusable,” Nana Dartey lamented.
He warned that the pace of destruction signals a looming crisis.
“If this continues, we fear what the next six months or one year will bring. Already, the situation is nothing to write home about. It is affecting farmers and families who depend entirely on these water bodies,” he said.
Beyond environmental damage, residents report growing insecurity as illegal miners allegedly take over farmlands and restrict access.
“Some farmers are unable to go to their farms because their lands have been taken over. The miners claim the lands have been sold to them and they guard them as their property,” he revealed.
He further raised concerns over the presence of armed individuals in mining areas.
“We hear that after the military removed some equipment, a few days later some of these people returned with guns and stationed themselves there. It is becoming a very dangerous situation for farmers,” he said.
Organisers insist the demonstration will serve as a decisive stand against illegal mining, warning that they are prepared to escalate the matter through the courts if authorities fail to act.
“Our situation is very peculiar, we do not have vast lands or large water bodies to depend on. If we lose these, we lose our future,” Nana Dartey stressed.
“We want to demonstrate to the whole world that we cannot accept galamsey on our lands. And if nothing is done, we will go to court and use legal means to stop this destruction,” he declared.
As August 11 approaches, Berekum stands at a critical crossroads. For residents, the planned protest is more than a demonstration, it is a fight to protect their environment, safeguard their livelihoods, and demand accountability in the face of an escalating ecological crisis.
