Fetish Priest Abandons Shrine as Anti-Galamsey Task Force Storms River Ankobra

The Western Regional Anti-Galamsey Task Force has uncovered a fetish shrine along the River Ankobra, with the priest fleeing during the raid. Authorities vow to restore the polluted river despite spiritual fortifications by illegal miners.

River Ankobra anti-galamsey raid

Fetish Priest Abandons Shrine as Anti-Galamsey Task Force Storms River Ankobra

The Western Regional Anti-Galamsey Task Force has vowed to continue its crackdown on illegal mining despite attempts by operators to rely on spiritual protections.

This followed a dramatic raid on Wednesday, September 17, when a joint riverine patrol by the Western Regional National Security and the Western Naval Command uncovered a shrine hidden along the banks of the River Ankobra.

The shrine, dedicated to the deity Maame Wata and locally known as *Togbe Nana Benin*, was discovered inside a makeshift hut believed to serve as a spiritual base for illegal miners.

According to security officials, the fetish priest fled the scene upon sighting the task force, leaving behind ritual items and animals meant for sacrifice.

“This room was for the juju man. He ran away when he saw us, but we only fear God. Wherever their gods are, we are ready to confront them. We will destroy everything and move forward,” a naval officer told reporters.

Inside the structure, officers found ritual prescriptions for a client, including one sheep, one goat, six fowls, one guinea fowl, cowries valued at GH¢3,000, and GH¢300 in cash. Two sheep and a fowl, tied nearby, were also abandoned.

Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd), Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, reaffirmed government’s resolve to restore the heavily polluted Ankobra River.

“Regular patrols on the Ankobra are vital. We must identify and cut off all pollution sources, including sand washing, that degrade the river. With sustained effort, we can revive the river,” he stated.

Residents still depend on the river despite its contamination. Some, like food vendor Daavi Akorfa, purify the water with alum before drinking or cooking.

The task force noted a worrying shift in tactics, with illegal miners now channeling wastewater directly into the river instead of operating openly along its banks.

The Ankobra raid formed part of a broader crackdown, which also included a simultaneous land-based operation in the Gwira enclave by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMO).

Authorities have stressed that no spiritual fortifications or threats will derail the ongoing fight against galamsey.