The Akyemansa District Anti-Galamsey Taskforce has arrested one person and seized eight changfang machines in a major operation against illegal mining activities on the Pra River at Nyamebekyere Ablade-Apetey in the Akyemansa District of the Eastern Region.

The operation, led by the Akyemansa District Chief Executive (DCE), Linda Ahenkrah, targeted illegal miners operating along the Pra River, which forms the boundary between the Eastern and Ashanti Regions.

Speaking to the media after the operation, Akyemansa District Chief Executive (DCE) Linda Ahenkrah described the fight against illegal mining in the district as difficult but winnable.

“The fight against galamsey in Akyemansa is not an easy one — it involves a lot,” Mrs. Ahenkrah said. “But we have made it our priority, and we are determined to win.”

She explained that their visit to Nyamebekyere Ablade-Apety was part of an ongoing effort to restore the Pra River.

“Today, we visited the community of Nyamebekyere Ablade-Apety. We have been here since morning, and looking at our river, it is in a terrible state,” she lamented. “This water once supported fish and other aquatic life; people even drank from it. Now, it looks like Lipton tea diluted with milk.”

Mrs. Ahenkrah said the recent joint operation brought together key stakeholders and led to significant progress.

“As we have vowed, we will fight until this menace is completely curbed,” she said. “We carried out a joint operation involving the police, intelligence officers, NADMO, and other key partners. We arrested several people — mostly the youth — seized their machines, and destroyed some of their equipment, such as chafans, while others have been taken to our station.”

She emphasised that ending galamsey requires cooperation from all sections of society.

“The fight against galamsey is not the responsibility of one group alone,” Mrs. Ahenkrah stressed. “It requires the collective effort of many stakeholders—our chiefs, assembly members, unit committee members, community members, and even the financiers who support these activities. We are engaging all of them. With continued collaboration and determination, the President’s vision to end this menace will be achieved, our communities and water bodies will be restored, and everyone will benefit.”