Illegal mining resumes along Tano River and airstrip at Samreboi after floods

Illegal mining has resumed along the Tano River and near the main airstrip at Samreboi in the Western Region, about four months after floods submerged almost half of the town, according to a report published by on Monday 9 November 2026.

Drone footage captured by journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and his team shows several excavators working along the river and in previously mined areas. The team counted more than seven excavators mining around the airstrip close to the township, leaving pits and gullies that in places are advancing towards the town and the riverbank.

The report says the renewed activity is allegedly backed by influential individuals, and residents fear it could further block natural waterways and expose the community to another flood. GhanaCrimes has not seen the individuals identified or any response from the authorities.

Residents disagree on what caused the earlier flooding, which also submerged a water pumping station supplying the community. Findings from a fact-finding exercise by local experts, cited in the report, suggest illegal mining at Kyemiso blocked a critical flow path linking the Tano and Samire rivers, sending water back towards the town.

The report raises questions about whether the relevant authorities are aware of the renewed mining. No arrests have been reported.