Some Civil Society Organizations(CSO’s) in Ghana have called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a mining operator accused of attempting to illegally divert the sacred Birim River at Apapam in the Eastern Region.
The groups — A Rocha Ghana, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, and the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape — described the act as a “blatant assault” on Ghana’s natural heritage and a violation of environmental regulations.
According to the organisations, the mining company, allegedly owned by Emmanuel Gamah of Kwabeng, dug trenches and constructed a diversion channel to redirect the Birim River at a critical point where it exits the ecologically sensitive Atewa Forest Reserve.
The development prompted a swift response from the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Minerals Commission, and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), who inspected the site. During the visit, NIB officials arrested a security operative for questioning, while the operation was ordered to stop.
The groups, however, insist that suspension of the activity is not enough. They are demanding that Mr. Gamah and all involved face full prosecution for illegal mining, environmental destruction, and cultural desecration.
“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, WRC, and Minerals Commission must move beyond suspension. Apprehend Mr. Emmanuel Gamah and all involved. Prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read.
The groups also demanded that the miner be compelled to restore the damaged ecological restoration site, which was bulldozed during the operation, destroying native tree species such as Mahogany, Emire, and Ofram.
They further called for investigations into possible complicity at both company and regulatory levels, stressing that impunity in the mining sector threatens the nation’s rivers, forests, and future sustainability.
“We cannot build a sustainable future with this kind of escalating destruction of life-supporting systems. This must be a turning point,” the statement concluded.
Press Statement- Birim August 2025 by Fred Dzakpata
