Mr. John Quayson, a prominent opinion leader in Ghana’s fisheries industry, known popularly as ‘Manoma,’ has called on Ghanaians to hold President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare, and Chief of Army Staff Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona accountable for the massive destruction of the nation’s water bodies due to illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Adwoakrom, Manoma expressed deep frustration over the devastation galamsey has caused to rivers and other water bodies, including the sea near Shama and its surrounding areas.
“Ghanaians should first blame President Akufo-Addo, followed by his Vice, Dr. Bawumia, the IGP, and the Chief of Army Staff for allowing the galamsey menace to reach this level,” he declared.
Manoma further urged the accused to publicly prove their innocence and take decisive action to eliminate illegal mining in order to preserve Ghana’s water resources. He pointed out that pollution from galamsey activities has severely affected the livelihood of local fishermen, particularly around Shama, as toxic chemicals from mining kill fish and other marine life in the area’s polluted sea.
The press briefing in Adwoakrom followed a similar call by Professor Samuel Adei, urging President Akufo-Addo to declare a national emergency on the galamsey issue, which has garnered support from labor unions, including UTAG.
During the event, the Chief Fisherman of Shama also called on national leaders to act swiftly to halt illegal mining, which he described as the fishermen’s “greatest enemy” due to its devastating impact on their livelihoods and the ocean’s ecosystem. Fishermen from Shama and Adwoakrom often return from trips with little or no catch, a direct result of the poisoned waters, he lamented, adding that they already face additional challenges such as limited access to premix fuel.
Other residents of Adwoakrom and Shama echoed these concerns, emphasizing how dramatically the Pra River and the surrounding sea have deteriorated over the years due to illegal mining activities. They pleaded with the government to take urgent action.
Galamsey continues to pose a significant threat to the livelihoods of Ghanaians, with water bodies like the Pra River—an alternative source of water for Shama-Adwoakrom residents—becoming heavily polluted. Once a vital resource, the river has been rendered muddy and unsafe due to ongoing galamsey operations in the Central Region and beyond.
