Fetish priest flees shrine as anti-galamsey task force storms Ankobra River

The Western Regional Anti-galamsey Task Force says neither fear nor rituals will derail its mission to stop illegal mining, stressing that even the threat of black magic cannot shield offenders.

During a fresh patrol along the River Ankobra, security personnel stumbled upon a small shrine hidden in a makeshift hut. 

According to Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd.), the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, operations will continue until visible improvements are seen in the river’s condition.

Commenting on how spiritual practices influence mining operations, Armah Kwofi Nyemeke remarked: 

“This is accurate. In instances where deities attempt to obstruct their mining operations, the Chinese miners have been known to capture these gods in order to obtain access.”

The joint exercise, carried out by officers from the Western Regional National Security and the Western Naval Command on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, took an unusual turn when the team uncovered a shrine dedicated to Maame Wata, locally called Togbe Nana Benin.

The fetish priest, who was said to be in charge of the site, bolted upon sighting the approaching security detail. A naval officer, reacting to his flight, stated: 

“This room is designated for the mallam or juju man. You’ve escaped, yet you’re supposed to wait and meet with us. We don’t have time for this; we only answer to God. You’re running away? Next time, we expect to see you with the juju.”

Inside the shrine, officers discovered a handwritten list of ritual requirements, including one sheep, one goat, six fowls, one guinea fowl, 3,000 cedis’ worth of cowries, and an additional GHC 300 in cash. Two sheep and a fowl tied nearby were believed to be awaiting sacrifice.

The find sparked questions about whether such displays of spiritual power could unsettle the anti-mining task force or embolden them further. A naval official noted:

“This is where they consult the gods their operating bed, so to speak. That’s the Maame Wata shrine. They believe that by doing this, they’ll be granted more gold, but in reality, they’re destroying our water bodies. We won’t forgive them; we’ll destroy everything.”

“Wherever their gods reside, we’re ready to confront them. We’ve encountered various rituals white sheep, white fowls, and other things but we won’t back down. We’ll take them down and move forward.”

Perspectives on the role of rituals in mining varied. Miner Blay Miezah explained: 

“It is true that no land is truly empty; it belongs to the chiefs. However, as spirits reside upon it, we must first consult the priest to understand the necessary rituals for a site before any work can commence.”

But fellow miner Francis Kaku disagreed: 

“Since it was Almighty God who created all that is under the earth including gold, I do not subscribe to the local spirituality and rituals required before mining. This is based on my observation of numerous individuals who performed such rituals with no improvement in their fortunes.”

Despite the severe turbidity and known dangers of the Ankobra River, many residents along its banks have no choice but to rely on it for their daily needs.

There are other means through which the rivers are polluted apart from the galamsey activities, including openly defecating into it. Daavi Akorfa, who sells Banku from a makeshift stall to illegal miners in the area, was worried about the situation.

“This is the water we use daily. We fetch it and add alum to purify it before using it for both cooking and drinking,” she said

During the patrol, the task force noted a new trend: illegal miners shifting from open excavation along the riverbank to directing wastewater directly into the river, worsening contamination.

Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd.) reiterated that the fight will continue until results are evident. “Sustaining regular patrols on the River Ankobra is crucial, and I’m confident that with this effort, the river can be restored.

“We need to identify and block all areas where pollutants are entering the river, as unchecked activities like sand washing will continue to cause problems. We’ve already identified a few hotspots and aim to uncover those involved.

“Blocking these sources is essential for cleaning the river’s surface. I’m convinced that regular patrols can solve this issue once and for all.”

As the riverine patrol advanced on the Ankobra, another team from NAIMO simultaneously carried out land-based operations in the Gwira enclave.