Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi, Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwah has revealed that illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, is rampant across the entire Diocese.
“There is galamsey activity in all the 6 deaneries and the 13 administrative districts in the Diocese,” Bishop Afoakwah stated.
In his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference Plenary Assembly which is currently underway in the Obuasi Diocese, Bishop Afoakwah provided a detailed breakdown of the extent of galamsey activities within the Diocese.
According to the data presented, the issue is pervasive, affecting multiple parishes and outstations across the region.
Notably, the worst-hit areas are the four Amansie Districts – Amansie East, Amansie West, Amansie South, and Amansie Central – where illegal mining has infiltrated nearly every parish and outstation.
For example, in the Amansie West District (also referred to as the “hub” for galamsey activities), out of 66 outstations, almost all are involved in illegal mining, including major hubs like Agroyesum, Keniago, and Manso Nkwanta, where nearly all outstations are dedicated to galamsey operations.
In areas such as Agroyesum, Keniago, and Manso Nkwanta, all outstations are involved in galamsey activities, which highlights the widespread nature of the illegal mining crisis.
Bishop Afoakwah also provided insight into the situation in other districts, including the Obuasi West Municipal (4 parishes, 32 outstations), Obuasi East District (5 parishes, 9 outstations), and Akrofuom District (1 parish, 6 outstations), where significant galamsey operations are taking place.
Even in areas such as Bosomtwe District, where most parishes are not directly impacted, one parish, Beposo, still has some involvement in illegal mining.
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