KNUST Planning lecturer urges Bosomtwe residents to lead fight against illegal mining to protect Lake Bosomtwe
Dr Stephen Takyi, Policy and Planning lecturer at KNUST
KNUST Planning lecturer urges Bosomtwe residents to lead fight against illegal mining to protect Lake Bosomtwe
A Policy and Planning lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Stephen Takyi, has called on residents of the Bosomtwe District in the Ashanti Region to take ownership of efforts to protect Lake Bosomtwe from the growing threat of illegal mining.
Speaking during Otec FM’s morning show, Nyansapo, on Monday, June 29, 2026, Dr Takyi said the future of the country’s only natural lake largely depends on the commitment of communities surrounding it.
He stressed that waiting for state institutions to solve the problem would not produce the desired results.
“As community members, you must protect your own lands and forests. If you continue to rely on state institutions alone, Lake Bosomtwe you not be protected,” he said.
“The people who live around the lake have the greatest responsibility to preserve it for future generations,” he told the show host Kwaku Owusu Boateng.
The policy and planning lecturer argued that some individuals involved in illegal mining activities may be receiving protection from influential political figures, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to effectively crack down on the menace.
“Some of those engaging in these illegal activities may have the backing of powerful political actors. That is why they continue operating without fear of arrest,” he stated.
Dr Takyi’s comments come on the heels of a warning issued by the Asante Volunteer Security Association (AVOSA), which cautioned individuals involved in illegal mining around Lake Bosomtwe to immediately halt their activities.
The group further threatened to apprehend anyone found destroying the environment and demanded that all pits created through illegal mining be reclaimed.
The renewed concerns also follow reports by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, who confirmed illegal mining operations at Beposo, a community near Lake Bosomtwe.
The Minister reportedly identified Richard Antwi, a native of the area, as being connected to the alleged activities, intensifying public discussions over the protection of the environmentally significant lake.
Dr Takyi maintained that community vigilance remains the most effective weapon against environmental destruction.
He urged residents to unite in defending Lake Bosomtwe, warning that failure to act collectively could lead to irreversible damage to one of Ghana’s most treasured natural resources.
Source: Ghana/ otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
