Residents and Chiefs Demand Urgent Action as Illegal Mining Turns Lifeline Water Source into Toxic Sludge
ATRONIE, Bono Region — The deafening sound of chanting protesters echoed across the Atronie bridge at dawn Monday as hundreds of residents, draped in symbolic red and black, launched a fierce demonstration against the devastating destruction of River Amoma—a vital water source now slowly being choked to death by illegal mining operations.
The protest, which began with traditional rites at the bridge—one of the main gateways into the community—quickly escalated into a major disruption, paralyzing the Sunyani-Ntrotroso highway for hours and leaving motorists trapped in both directions.
"Our River is Dying": Community Sounds Alarm
For the people of Atronie, River Amoma is not just water—it is life. But rampant galamsey activities in Jinijini and surrounding areas within the Atronie Stool Land have turned the once-pristine river into a murky, polluted shadow of its former self.
Assembly Member for the Atronie Electoral Area, Richard Adu, painted a grim picture of the crisis:
"The situation is growing more serious by the day. Some residents can no longer access safe water for domestic use, and our farmers are suffering immensely because the polluted water can no longer support irrigation."
Farmers Count Losses as Crops Wither
The agricultural backbone of the community is under direct threat. With irrigation now impossible due to contamination, farmers are watching their livelihoods crumble. The pollution doesn't just affect drinking water—it poisons the very soil that sustains the community.
Call to Government: "Enough is Enough"
In an emotional appeal, Mr. Adu called on President John Dramani Mahama and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to deploy immediate, decisive action against the illegal miners.
"We need stronger enforcement now. The government must intensify operations and remove these illegal miners before our river dies completely," he urged.
A Crisis That Demands National Attention
The Atronie protest is the latest flashpoint in Ghana's ongoing battle against galamsey—a menace that has devastated water bodies, forests, and communities across the country. As residents of Atronie stand firm, their message is clear: the time for empty promises is over. The river cannot wait.
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