Authorities in the Ellembelle District are shifting strategy in the fight against illegal mining by cutting off access routes used to transport equipment into forests and river bodies.
The Blue Water Guards have mounted barricades along key roads identified as major entry points for galamsey machinery, in a move aimed at disrupting operations before they even begin.
Speaking in an interview at Aiyinasi, the District Coordinator, Stephen Afena, explained that the approach focuses on preventing excavators, changfang machines, and other mining tools from reaching illegal mining sites. He noted that once such equipment is blocked, it becomes significantly harder for operators to continue their activities.
The targeted routes include corridors linking Nkroful to Teleku-Bokazo and Anwia, Aiyinasi to Nyamebekyere, Ewereko to Mantukwa toward Prestea, and Awiebo to Asasetre, among others. However, some of these routes are yet to see full enforcement due to logistical constraints.
Mr. Afena said the initiative forms part of a broader effort by government to make illegal mining unattractive and restore polluted water bodies. He added that officers have also been tasked to trace and track machinery linked to illegal mining operations.
He further cautioned personnel to maintain professionalism and resist any attempts at bribery, stressing that integrity remains key to the success of the operation.
The crackdown aligns with wider anti-galamsey efforts spearheaded by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, including initiatives such as the Blue Water Guards, anti-galamsey task forces, and environmental restoration programmes.
Officials believe that targeting supply chains—rather than only confronting miners at sites—could prove more effective in curbing illegal mining activities across the district.
