The River Offin, a major water body flowing through Ghana’s Ashanti and Central Regions and a vital tributary of the Pra River, is under severe threat from illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Once central to the history, ecology, and livelihoods of communities such as Dunkwa-on-Offin, Offinso, Manso-Keneago, Manso-Asaman and Manso-Datano, the river is now heavily polluted and increasingly unsafe for human and animal use.
The Offin serves as a critical source of water, supports farming and timber activities, and sustains thousands of people across its 6,561 km² basin.
Yet, rampant illegal mining activities—some operating shockingly close to residential areas in the Central Business District of Dunkwa-on-Offin—have turned sections of the river into contaminated channels of muddy, toxic water.
This growing environmental menace threatens not only public health and biodiversity, but also the long-term survival of communities and economic activities that depend on the river.
The destruction of the Offin is not just a local crisis; it is a national emergency. As a major contributor to the Pra River system, pollution in the Offin has far-reaching consequences downstream, ultimately affecting broader ecosystems and water security.
Urgent attention is needed from government, environmental regulators, traditional authorities, and citizens to confront the galamsey menace, enforce laws, restore degraded lands, and protect the River Offin before irreversible damage is done. Saving the Offin is not optional—it is a necessity for present and future generations. Save the River Offin from Galamsey Destruction
The River Offin, a major water body flowing through Ghana’s Ashanti and Central Regions and a vital tributary of the Pra River, is under severe threat from illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Once central to the history, ecology, and livelihoods of communities such as Dunkwa-on-Offin, Offinso, Manso-Keneago, Manso-Asaman and Manso-Datano, the river is now heavily polluted and increasingly unsafe for human and animal use.
The Offin serves as a critical source of water, supports farming and timber activities, and sustains thousands of people across its 6,561 km² basin.
Yet, rampant illegal mining activities—some operating shockingly close to residential areas in the Central Business District of Dunkwa-on-Offin—have turned sections of the river into contaminated channels of muddy, toxic water.
This growing environmental menace threatens not only public health and biodiversity, but also the long-term survival of communities and economic activities that depend on the river.
The destruction of the Offin is not just a local crisis; it is a national emergency. As a major contributor to the Pra River system, pollution in the Offin has far-reaching consequences downstream, ultimately affecting broader ecosystems and water security.
Urgent attention is needed from government, environmental regulators, traditional authorities, and citizens to confront the galamsey menace, enforce laws, restore degraded lands, and protect the River Offin before irreversible damage is done. Saving the Offin is not optional—it is a necessity for present and future generations.
Wriiten by Ayamga Bawa Fatawu
