On November 6, 2025, a team from Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accompanied by journalists and security personnel, was conducting an anti-galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) operation in the Ashanti Region near Obuasi.
The operation targeted active illegal mining sites and equipment suppliers, but it turned violent when the team encountered irate galamsey operators at Dadwene, a community close to Obuasi. The miners, described as heavily armed, attacked the convoy, forcing the EPA team and journalists to flee for their lives.
The EPA team, led by CEO Professor Nana Ama Klutse, had earlier closed shops selling galamsey equipment at Anhwia Nkwanta. While moving to inspect ongoing operations near Obuasi, they stumbled upon active mining. The accompanying military escort advised retreat, stating they couldn’t overpower the armed group. Prof. Klutse later recounted: “We were fleeing for our lives.”
In the chaos, one vehicle carrying EPA staff and journalists collided head-on with a truck transporting pipes (suspected galamsey equipment) at Afari, near Obuasi. This occurred shortly after the attack, exacerbating the injuries.
Several individuals were hurt, with a focus on the media team. Here’s a summary:
| Affected Individuals | Injuries | Status | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abubakar (TV3 journalist) | Severe (critical condition) | Hospitalized, responding to treatment | TV3 |
| Joy TV camera operator | Severe (critical condition) | Hospitalized, responding to treatment | Joy TV |
| Joseph (Adom TV correspondent) | Head injury | Responding to treatment | Adom TV |
| Unnamed EPA staff members | Various injuries from crash | Hospitalized; special care requested | EPA |
Prof. Klutse appealed to medical staff for prioritized care, emphasizing the team’s trauma. No fatalities were reported from the attack or crash, though the incident has left participants “traumatized.”
This operation is part of the EPA’s intensified crackdown on galamsey, which has devastated water bodies, farmlands, and forests in regions like Ashanti. Obuasi has long been a hotspot for such conflicts, with prior clashes involving military and miners (e.g., a January 2025 shootout at AngloGold Ashanti mines).
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Ashanti branch expressed solidarity, highlighting the risks journalists face in covering public-interest issues like galamsey.
This event underscores the escalating dangers in Ghana’s fight against galamsey, where economic desperation fuels armed resistance. Authorities have not yet announced arrests from this specific incident, but calls for stronger enforcement are growing.
