The Municipal Chief Executive for Atwima Nwabiagya South, Michael Amoah Awuku, has recounted his harrowing experience of nearly drowning while pursuing illegal miners in his municipality.

Speaking on Hello FM on September 15, 2024, Amoah Awuku said he received a tip-off about Chinese illegal miners operating across the Offin River, but it turned out to be false.

He added that it took the intervention of rescuers to save them after the boat capsized during their return.

Despite their struggle and near-death experience, their search yielded no results.

“I decided to embark on a galamsey fight together with a team of police personnel and the assembly taskforce. We were met by some boys on our way who informed us of the presence of some Chinese illegal miners engaging in galamsey across the Offin River.

“On that day, the river was overflowing, so we had to cross by using a boat. Upon reaching our destination, we discovered that the boys had lied to us about the presence of Chinese miners, so we had to return, which was around 6pm. The boat we boarded was rickety and in poor condition, requiring the rider to scoop water out of it because it was taking on water," he narrated.

The MCE continued to say that “Due to the intensity of the river, the boat capsized, throwing us all into the water. We screamed for help, and some men came to our rescue. They pulled us from the river because we couldn’t swim. Additionally, a police officer’s gun fell into the water, and it was the rescuers who retrieved it. The person who provided the false information cannot be traced till now.”

The issue of galamsey has once again recently gained public attention following Ghana Water Limited’s distressing challenge of being unable to supply water to some townships in the Central Region due to pollution of the Pra River from galamsey activities.

Many CSOs and associations have called for an immediate ban on small-scale mining.

MAG/AE

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