The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has instructed regional and district offices to step up monitoring efforts in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

During a visit to Beposo in the Western Region, Prof. Klutse stressed the need for proactive field inspections to curb the ongoing pollution of water bodies caused by galamsey activities.

She called on EPA officials nationwide to actively enforce environmental regulations.

“As the CEO, I am personally on the field monitoring galamsey activities and assessing the extent of water pollution. I expect all my staff across regional and district offices to do the same to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws,” she stated.

Standing beneath the Beposo bridge, she expressed deep concern over the alarming state of the Pra River, visibly contaminated due to illegal mining operations. “From the Eastern Region through to this point, you can see the damage being done."

"The polluted water flowing downstream is a direct result of illegal mining within the river itself,” she lamented.

Prof. Klutse urged local communities and traditional leaders to take an active role in safeguarding water resources, calling on them to report and prevent galamsey activities before further environmental degradation occurs.

“EPA is pleading with the community members, especially areas where illegal mining in our water bodies is happening to let EPA know. They have the capacity to prevent people from mining illegally in their water bodies."

“We’re also pleading with chiefs and elders that they should also stamp on their authority so that the rivers community members use for their domestic purposes will not be destroyed or polluted the way we’re seeing it.”