Illegal miners block river course causing water shortage in farming communities

Acute water shortage has hit some farming communities in the Banda District of the Bono Region putting scores of farmers in a state of despair.  

The water shortage, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) learnt, followed the blockage of the Tamae River, the only source of water for the farming communities, situated along the Ghana-Cote D’Ivoire border lines in the district.  

Some illegal miners blocked the course, undertaking the alluvial illegal mining activities in the river, with mostly women farmers and school children bearing the brunt.  

Mr Peter Donji, the Banda District Chief Executive confirmed to the GNA in an interview and mentioned farmers at Yamosi, Dobo and Bonokrom farming communities as the worst affected people.  

He explained that a taskforce of the District Security Committee (DISEC) heard the information about blockage of the river course and activities of the miners and subsequently raided the area on Thursday September 25, 2025.   

“Unfortunately, we did not see any of the illegal miners on site”, he stated, and added however that the taskforce seized an excavator and other earth moving machines, two power generators and burnt some other unmovable equipment”, Mr Dongi stated.  

He said: “Our preliminary investigations reveal that a Chinese national is behind the illegal mining activities and we are going to clamp down on them”.  

Mr Dongi expressed concern about the growing illegal mining activities in the area causing extensive destruction to the vegetative and forest covers, farmlands and river bodies.  

He said without the support of the local communities, traditional authorities and opinion leaders, it would be difficult for the government to fight the menace and called for stakeholders’ support.  

Source: GNA  

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