Illegal mining activities have wreaked havoc on land designated for a school park in Konkoma, located in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region. The encroachment has left the area heavily degraded and presents significant dangers to both the local school and health centre.
The miners, in search of gold, have dug perilously close to the Konkoma D/A Basic School and the community health centre, leaving behind deep pits and unstable soil. This land, which was once the only playground for the school’s pupils and a recreational space for the wider community, has been transformed into a hazardous zone.
The mining operations, occurring less than 100 meters from both the school and health centre, have created a dangerous environment for students. School authorities have raised alarms over the safety risks posed by the deep, unfilled pits, while the stagnant water in these pits has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, further exacerbating health issues for those at the nearby health centre.
Stephen Abrokwah, the Assembly Member for Konkoma, warned that the illegal mining poses a grave threat to the entire community.
In response, officials from the National Security have made several arrests related to the illegal mining activities.
The Bosomtwe District’s Chief Executive, Engineer Abdullah Hamidu, has taken an immediate action by launching a reclamation project to restore the damaged land and has promised to hold those responsible accountable for the environmental destruction.
The district assembly has called on local residents to actively support efforts to combat illegal mining in the area, which has now become a critical issue for the community’s safety and well-being.
