Radio Progress News first radio station in the Upper West Region
The Wechiau Hippos Sanctuary, which established in 1998 by a community-based initiative born from the collaborative efforts of local chiefs, landlords, queen mothers, and the people of over 40 communities in the Wa West District is now facing a dire threat from illegal mining activities.
The serene Hippos sanctuary, nestled along the banks of the Black Volta River, has been invaded by galamseyers
This was revealed by the manager of the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, NY Abdullah Issahaku in an exclusive interview with Progress News on 31st July, 2024.
According to the manager, the galamseyers mounted changfan machines on the black Volta river while undertaking their activities.
He said, their destructive activities have left visible scars on the landscape, disrupting the fragile ecosystem and endangering the unique biodiversity of the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is home to over 50 hippos, 250 bird species, various plant species, and countless other living creatures.
Mr. Abdullah Issahaku expressed his deep concern over the presence of illegal mining machinery saying “Today we are here to look at how far the galamsey operators are moving into the protected zone of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. In fact, we’ve seen some changfan machines which these people use to do the galamsey on the Black Volta River.”
The employment opportunities generated by the sanctuary have been a lifeline for over 3,000 people. The support for organic shea and groundnut production by the sanctuary has empowered over 2,000 women, providing them with a sustainable source of income.
The manager warned of the broader implications of continued galamsey activities in in sanctuary. “If this thing is allowed to happen on the Black Volta River, it is not only going to spoil or soil the good work of the people of the Wechiau area. It is also going to contaminate the water which many people use for household chores and animals also drink it.”
The galamsey activities in the sanctuary are not just a threat to the environment but also to the social and economic fabric of the Wechiau community.
He has appealed to the chiefs, the district chief executive and the security services to team up and come to the aid of the management of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary
