Foreigners building galamsey enclaves in our forests frightening — Senyo Hosi

Lead Convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi

Lead Convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has raised alarm over the growing involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves.

He described the development as a national security threat, stressing that the creation of galamsey settlements by foreigners in Ghana’s forests is both frightening and disgraceful.

“It is a national security issue. Are we really safe as a country when foreign nationals are able to create their own communities? This is a very established, totally unmapped settlement. It is very scary. Ghanaians should be extremely concerned about what is going on,” he said.

“It is a disgrace that foreigners can infiltrate our country and establish such communities. National security must investigate how this was allowed to happen,” he added.

Commenting further on the matter during TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, April 19, Mr. Hosi called on President John Dramani Mahama to act swiftly and decisively to end illegal mining.

“Galamsey must be dealt with very ruthlessly because you have armed galamseyers shooting at security officers. We are a failing state, and the president must take this matter, hold the bull by the horns, and not fail us,” he said.

His concerns follow a recent joint operation by the Forestry Commission in the Western Region and the Armed Forces at Abrewa Ninkrane, a well-known galamsey hub within the Subri Forest Reserve, on Tuesday, April 15.

During the raid, several makeshift camps were set ablaze. The camps, according to reports, were occupied by illegal miners believed to be nationals of Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

These miners had built fully functional settlements with wooden brothels and makeshift shelters that served as both homes and business centres.