Ghana is dying and we are watching it happen. Yesterday, April 24, 2026, I went to Bekwai from Accra. Heading back, I drove from Bekwai through Brofoyedru, Ofoase, Ayirebi and to Oda to inspect a project and continued to Nsawam and back into Accra. I lost count of polluted rivers. Every single one was the color of clay. Thick. Dying. Poisoned. Dead. Shame.

On 2 occasions I stopped. I got out and took photographs because my mind refused to believe my eyes. This is not water. This is running mercury, cyanide, and the fluid corpse of a nation flowing into the sea one meter at a time.

This is Galamsey. Galamsey has won. Ghana has lost the fight.

I celebrate stalwarts in this fight; Ken Ashigbe, Erastus Asare Donkor, Senyo Hosi and all the teaming open and silent supporters of Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana. You fought a good fight but Galamsey has won.

I am not sure how long we will continue to lie to ourselves. This is no longer “small-scale mining”. This is industrial-scale suicide. And every town from Bekwai to Nsawam now runs a full Galamsey economy.

As you drive through Anyinam the Galamsey economy is there in the open. The frontage of shops is littered with water pumps and Galamsey accoutrements, Wellington boots. Changfang machines is the welders’ dream job. Food joints and Motorbike dealers, spare parts shops, mechanics etc. There is an entire ecosystem that feeds on the bleeding of our rivers. I have seen this from Bomfa through Beposo to Kumasi. I have seen them along the Dunkwa-on-Offin through Prestea. We have allowed and economy of death to be built and it is feeding us dead.

Who are we fooling? This bereaved Birim River used to be a safe place for swimming, fishing and drinking. The Densu is what Accra drinks. We are pouring mercury into our own cups. All those taking money in the darkness and looking away would soon have their funeral in the open. It is not a curse nor a prophesy but common sense.

Let us all start a social media drive to stop Galamsey. Here are 10 slogans on my mind:

• No River, No Life.
• You Can’t Drink GDP.
• Kill the Densu, Kill Accra.
• No Forest, No Rain. No Rain, No Ghana.
• No Rivers. No Future.
• We’re Raising Men to Dig Their Own Graves.
• When the Gold Runs Out, What’s Left?
• Poisoned Water, Poisoned Youth, Poisoned Land.
• Choose: Gold Today or Ghana Tomorrow.
• Our Rivers Are Bleeding.

Pick one. Post it. Tag a chief, an MP, a bank, a church. Make them see it

We are selling the blood of this country for a few ounces of gold that does not even stay here. The Chinese bring the changfang. The Indian brings the pumps. The Lebanese brings the cash. Ghana brings the rivers. When all is done and destroyed, the rivers will be dead, the foreigners will leave, we will line up and bury our children. Galamsey will win and Ghana will lose.

Why is the corporate world silent? Why are the banks silent? Why are Professional Bodies Silent?

Rise up. Or we bury Ghana.

Tony Asare | April 25, 2026