The Ghana Armed Forces have demolished a Changfan dredging machine deployed on the Densu River at Tetegu near Weija, in a decisive operation aimed at halting destructive activities threatening the vital waterway. The action underscores intensified resolve to protect critical water sources from encroachment.
The intervention follows mounting alarm over unauthorized operations along the river course, with indications that illicit mining, locally known as galamsey, has infiltrated sections of the Densu. The military stormed the site and destroyed the equipment being used for dredging, preventing further degradation of the riverbed.
Environmental experts warn that such mechanical dredging poses severe ecological consequences, including siltation, turbidity, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems, while jeopardizing potable water supply for communities dependent on the Densu. The Weija Dam, which draws from the river, serves as a crucial reservoir for Accra and its environs, amplifying concerns over contamination.
The crackdown forms part of a broader national campaign against galamsey, which has devastated river bodies and forest reserves across the country. Security agencies have increasingly adopted a strategy of immobilizing and destroying equipment at illegal mining sites to deter recalcitrance and deny perpetrators operational capability.
Residents have welcomed the operation, expressing hope that sustained surveillance will prevent resurgence of illegal activities on the Densu. Authorities have reiterated commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and safeguarding water security for present and future generations.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
