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‘Galamsey’ wreaks havoc on farm, homes in Nkawkaw Amanfrom
Residents of Nkawkaw Amanfrom in Kwahu are reeling from the destruction caused by illegal mining activities, known locally as ‘galamsey’, which have ravaged a poultry farm and several nearby homes.
The mess has left families displaced and livelihoods shattered, raising urgent questions about the unchecked spread of the galamsey menace in Ghana’s farming communities.
The destruction occurred when miners blocked the community’s nearby water body for their operations, leading to extensive flooding during a downpour as the blocked stream overran its banks and spilled into homes and a newly constructed poultry farm owned by Mr. Samuel Osei.
Eyewitnesses have described the scene as heartbreaking — with homes cracked and flooded, and families forced to seek shelter elsewhere.
“We woke up to chaos,” one resident, who spoke to The Spectator on condition of anonymity, said. “The water was everywhere, and everything we’ve worked for was gone.”
The farming enclave of Nkawkaw Amanfrom is known for its agricultural contributions. To put an end to this menace, community members have added their voices to calls on government for an immediate intervention to save the community.
They are demanding stricter enforcement of mining regulations and support for affected families.
“This is not just about land,” one advocate said. “It’s about lives, homes, and futures being buried under greed.”
Madam Mary Danso, who has dealt in poultry for decades at Nkawkaw, lamented how galamsey has affected her source of income. She narrated to The Spectator how dust and smoke from mining sites spread to nearby farms, causing respiratory problems for poultry and reducing egg production.
She pleaded with the government to take action to reduce the menace of galamsey in society.
For Mr. Samuel Osei, a Ghanaian living in the UK who returned to Nkawkaw, it was a difficult sight — seeing his five years of planning, thousands of cedis invested, and a dream rooted in hope all destroyed by the activities of galamsey.
According to Mr. Osei, his poultry farm, with over 4,000 birds and completed with housing, pens, and a piggery, created jobs for a number of the youth in the community.
“This isn’t just one man’s loss. It’s a warning. Galamsey is not only destroying rivers and forests; it’s drowning futures, silencing dreams, and erasing years of honest work. We cannot stay silent. We cannot wait until every farm, every school, every home is lost. This is a call to the government, to local authorities, to environmental agencies — to act now,” he said.
The devastation in Nkawkaw Amanfrom is part of a larger crisis caused by the menace, with over 1.2 million hectares of farmland across Ghana destroyed and more than 500,000 farmers displaced.
By Beatrice Princess Kpeglah
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The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced that it will begin a special revenue mobilisation exercise on Monday, November 10, 2025, to recover all monies owed to the Assembly for the 2025 fiscal year.
According to the AMA, the exercise aims to boost revenue generation and improve service delivery across the city.
it sais a Revenue Mobilisation Task Force will visit businesses, properties, and outdoor advertising locations to reconcile bills and collect outstanding payments.
The Assembly advised all ratepayers to make available valid receipts of payment for Business Operating Permits (BOPs), Property Rates, Outdoor Advertising Fees, and Rents.
The Assembly added that those who may not be present during the exercise are encouraged to leave their receipts with caretakers to avoid penalties, as no excuses will be accepted from defaulters or their agents.
The assembly noted that the task force will also remove all unauthorised billboards, and companies found to have erected such structures without permits will be surcharged with the cost of removal.
The AMA urged all businesses and property owners to cooperate with the exercise, noting that the funds collected will help the Assembly continue to provide essential services such as sanitation, infrastructure development, and public safety.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to review his approach to governance, describing it as “not the best.”
He said the recent bail conditions imposed on some former government officials are unfair and appear to be punitive rather than just.
Mr. Glover made these comments during an interview on Metro TV.
He explained that bail is supposed to allow an accused person to appear before the court while the case is being tried, and not to serve as a form of punishment.
“If you want me to appear regularly before the police and the court, you can put a condition for me, but it should not be punitive. You can take my passport, ask me to report, or inspect my property. But where you make the bail so high that the person cannot even meet it, that becomes punishment,” he said.
He noted that some of the accused persons, including former government officials such as “my brother Assibey and my sister Gifty,” are still in custody because they have not been able to meet their bail requirements.
“What is the use of it? You keep them in incarceration, and they cannot have their day in court. Then you slap them with high bail conditions, making it difficult for them to secure their release. So what kind of justice are we talking about?,” he questioned.
Mr. Glover further criticized what he described as prejudicial comments made against accused persons before their cases are even heard in court, adding that it undermines justice.
He said the government, through agencies like the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the police, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, should ensure fairness and transparency in handling such cases.
He urged President Mahama to pay attention to these developments, warning that such practices affect the country’s image and governance.
By: Jacob Aggrey
