A Rocha Ghana, The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey and Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape have vehemently denounced the attempted illegal diversion of the sacred Birim River at Apapam in Ghana’s Eastern Region by a mining company linked to businesses Emmanuel Gamah.
In a joint press statement dated Monday, August 18, 2025, the groups disclosed that a mining company had begun constructing a diversion channel to alter the course of the Brirm River, whic flows out of the Atewa Forest Reserve.
They claim the operation violated environmental laws and devastated a three-year-old ecological restoration site featuring valuable tree species like Mahogany, Emire and Ofram.
However, intervention by agencies including the Water Resources Commission, Minerals Commission and National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) according to them, halted the activity and resulted in the arrest of a security operative.
The groups are demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Gamah and ill parties involved, as well as the restoration of the damaged ecological site, and investigation into potential complicity of local authorities.
They called on the government and traditional leaders in Akyem Abuakwa to act decisively against the growing impunity of illegal mining operations that are devastating the rivers and forests across the country.
