“We Had to Run for Our Lives”
By Hotdigitalonline Newsroom | Accra | November 2025
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Klutse, has described a terrifying encounter with armed men during an anti-galamsey operation near Obuasi, which ended in a serious road accident involving EPA staff and journalists.
“We Couldn’t Exchange Fire — We Had to Run”
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Thursday, November 6, Professor Klutse recounted how her team came under threat after confronting illegal miners actively operating inside a river body.
“We had the military with us and national security officers too. But when the armed men approached, we realised we couldn’t exchange fire or fight them — we had to run for our lives,” she said.
The chaotic retreat led to a head-on collision between one of the EPA convoy vehicles and a truck transporting pipes, suspected to be used in illegal mining.
“It was a frightening moment. We thank God that we all have our lives. Unfortunately, some suffered injuries — one cameraman from Joy TV has a broken thigh, Adom TV’s correspondent had a head injury, and some EPA staff were also hurt. But everyone is responding to treatment,”
Professor Klutse added.
Inside the Operation
The incident occurred during a three-week nationwide operation launched by the EPA on November 5 to dismantle the supply networks that sustain illegal mining in water bodies.
Professor Klutse said the mission aimed to target suppliers who provide excavators, pipes, fuel, and chemicals to galamsey operators, rather than focusing solely on the miners themselves.
“It’s not enough to say ‘stop mining in the rivers’. We must deal with those who supply the equipment and services that make galamsey possible,” she emphasized.
On Wednesday, the team had closed several shops at Anhwia Nkwanta known for supplying equipment to illegal miners. But on Thursday, while travelling near Obuasi, the team discovered active operations in a riverbed, with three excavators buried deep in the water.
“They had mined in the river and blocked it. The river had split into several tributaries and flooded parts of the area. It was really a bad situation,” she said.
Confrontation and Chaos
While assessing the site, the team was suddenly confronted by heavily armed men dressed in black, some wearing jackets labelled “CID.”
“The soldiers and national security men asked them for ID cards, but it became confrontational. We were later advised from Accra to leave immediately and avoid our planned route,”
she recalled.
The team attempted to retreat via a longer, safer route through the Western and Central Regions, but before reaching Kumasi, the fatal crash occurred.
A Call for Stronger Action
Professor Klutse said the incident underscores the dangerous networks protecting illegal mining, and the urgent need for stronger enforcement.
“This operation has shown us that fighting galamsey goes beyond seizing equipment — it’s about breaking the financial and logistical supply chains that keep it alive,”
she noted.
The EPA boss also called for continued inter-agency collaboration, emphasizing that without decisive support from security agencies, environmental officers remain exposed to grave risk.
Hotdigitalonline Reflection
The harrowing story of Professor Klutse and her team shines a light on the human cost of Ghana’s environmental crisis.
From polluted rivers to armed standoffs, the fight against galamsey has become a national test, of governance, courage, and accountability.
As the EPA vows to continue its mission, Ghanaians are reminded that the fight for clean water is also a fight for survival.
Tags: #Galamsey #NanaAmaKlutse #Obuasi #IllegalMining #EnvironmentalJustice #Hotdigitalonline #GhanaNews
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