Illegal mining, aka galamsey, has been “domesticated” so to peak in Elubo in the Juaboso district of the Western North Region – miners have escalated excavations into compound houses in the town in the mad gold rush there.
As a result, residential areas have taken the shape of a quarry, with yawning mining pits spottling the town like craters on the surface of the moon.
In a video report by Accra based United Television (UTV), even the courtyards of compound houses have been invaded by galamsey mine pits.
The video clip also shows at least one house which has had its walls cracked amidst a a stagger of houses with dug up foundations.
According to the story, the mini crater-sized galamsey pot holes have since become death traps in the town, with at least, one child drowning to death in a pit after heavy rainfall.
It said People there are angry about it but the authorities have turned a blind eye with some chiefs complicit in the carnage to the environment.
Among the officials who have turned a blind eye, according to the report, is National security coordinator for the western north region, Kwame Frimpong Boateng. Mr. Boateng is said to frequent the place in his four-wheel drive but never says anything about the horrible damage to the environment.
And, according to the people, the people in the time have been under gag by the galamseyers who dig up the village under the security of macho men. Nobody dares speak up against the matter. They therefore found it very opportune when UTV visited the town and decided to take advantage of their presence to vent their frustration.
Illegal mining is currently a headache for Ghana with experts warning that Ghana may have to import water by 2030 if the menace is not stopped.
The Akufo-Addo government has since taken initiatives, including setting up task force to fight illegal mining, but the task force was fraught with corruption.