The Western Regional Director of the Forestry Commission, Nana Kwabena Bosompim, has alleged that proceeds from illegal mining activities—commonly referred to as galamsey—are being used to finance the ongoing conflict in Bawku, located in the Upper East Region.
According to Nana Bosompim, some individuals involved in illegal mining in Abrewa Ne Nkran, an illegal mining settlement in the Western region, have confessed to channelling earnings from their operations to support relatives back home, ostensibly as their contribution towards building a war chest for the Bawku conflict.
“Majority of the individuals we encounter at these illegal mining sites are not from the Western Region. We’ve come across people from neighbouring regions, including the Upper East, Upper West, and Northern Regions. Many of them are from areas such as Bawku and Bolgatanga. In our interactions, some of them admitted that they came here to mine so they could repatriate funds to support their kinsmen in the conflict,” he stated.
He further alleged that investigations revealed some of the illegal miners are members of WhatsApp groups through which they coordinate financial contributions to sustain the conflict.
“They’ve formed WhatsApp groups—we’ve seen these on their phones—such as ‘Bawku Citizens Outside’ where they coordinate activities. They engage in galamsey and send money back home specifically to support the conflict,” he claimed.
Nana Bosompim also alleged that pressure is placed on miners to contribute, with threats made against their families if they fail to send money.
“Some individuals told us that if they returned to the mining sites and failed to remit money to support the conflict, their families back home would be attacked. It clearly indicates that proceeds from illegal mining are being used to fund violence in Bawku,” he added.
The illegal settlement was destroyed over the weekend but JoyNews understands that some of the persons involved in the act are rebuilding the destroyed settlement.
The Bawku conflict, which has seen a resurgence in recent months, has already claimed the lives of at least two police officers deployed in the area.
Over the years, the conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths, with violent outbreaks occurring almost annually.
In response to the renewed violence, the Asantehene has announced plans to resume his mediation efforts following the Easter season.
The alleged connection between illicit financial flows from illegal mining and the ongoing conflict raises serious concerns about national security and the broader implications of unregulated mining activities in Ghana.
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