Galamsey resumes along Tano river, airstrip months after flooding submerged Samereboi

Illegal mining activities have resumed along the Tano River and near the main airstrip at Samereboi in the Western Region, barely four months after devastating floods submerged parts of the town. Drone footage captured by JoyNews journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and his team shows several excavators operating along the river and within previously mined areas, raising concerns about the risk of another flooding incident.

There are fears that the renewed activities, allegedly backed by influential individuals, could further obstruct natural waterways and expose the community to another disaster. Four months ago, floodwaters submerged almost half of Samereboi, including a water pumping station operated by SARMATEX to supply the community. Although residents still have vivid memories of the destruction, there remain differing opinions about what caused the disaster.

While some residents attribute the flooding to the anger of the river gods over the failure to perform annual traditional rituals, others blame illegal mining activities along the Tano and Samire rivers. However, findings from a fact-finding exercise by some local experts suggest that illegal mining at Kyemiso obstructed a critical water flow path connecting the two rivers, causing water to flow back towards the town.

Despite these concerns, illegal mining has reportedly resumed in the same area, with drone footage showing excavators operating within the natural flow path of the Tano River. The renewed activities are not limited to the riverbanks. JoyNews also counted more than seven excavators actively mining around the main airstrip, close to the Samereboi township.

The mining operations have left behind extensive pits and gullies stretching across parts of the airstrip, with some advancing towards the town and the banks of the river. The scale of the operations has raised questions about the effectiveness of efforts to prevent a recurrence of the flooding and whether the relevant authorities are aware of the renewed illegal mining activities.

With the community still recovering from the previous disaster, urgent intervention by the relevant authorities could help prevent further obstruction of waterways and avert another potentially devastating flood in Samereboi. Watch the TV report in the video below.