The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Police Command has been commended by Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson for apprehending 12 people in relation to the damage of railway lines in the Akyim-Bonsawere segment of the Western Railway Corridor.
After years of neglect and abandonment in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, the once-promising Bonsawere railway line has been severely damaged by illegal mining activities, sometimes known as galamsey.
Miners have encroached on the area, excavating deep pits and removing the supporting soil structure, leaving the railway line, which was once an essential means of transportation for both passengers and goods, in ruins.
Concern over the increasing damage has been voiced by residents of Bonsawere and the surrounding areas, who have described the situation as disheartening and dangerous.
A significant amount of the track has collapsed, and parts of it are now immersed in mining pits that contain contaminated, stagnant water.
Residents worry that further environmental repercussions, such as the collapse of neighbouring lands and the contamination of neighbouring water bodies, may result from the destruction if it continues.
Witnesses claim that the illegal miners started operating along the abandoned line a number of years ago, exploiting the government’s seeming lack of interest in keeping the infrastructure in good condition.
Environmental experts have also cautioned that Ghana’s development is at risk due to a wider pattern of uncontrolled mining and neglect, which includes the destruction of the Bonsawere line.
In order to recover the land and safeguard the surviving infrastructure, they demanded that the Railway Ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) act right now.
The collapse of the Bonsawere railway line serves as a sobering reminder of the disastrous effects of galamsey on national assets and the results of inaction.
More of Ghana’s historic transport routes run the risk of vanishing into the ground as a result of greed and neglect if immediate action is not taken to restore the area and enforce mining regulations.
Speaking to Channel One TV on Monday, October 6, 2025, during a site inspection following news reports of the railway being damaged and neglected, the Minister expressed shock at the extent of the destruction and demanded that the 12 suspects be prosecuted as soon as possible.
In order to stop further damage, he also urged authorities to guarantee ongoing protection and monitoring of the railway infrastructure.
Source: newsthemegh.com