The Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary in the Upper West Region of Ghana, a vital ecological and cultural site, is severely threatened by illegal mining activities known as galamsey.
Established in 1998, the sanctuary hosts diverse wildlife, including over 50 hippos and 250 bird species.
However, recent incursions by galamsey operators, who use destructive machinery like changfan on the Black Volta River, have caused environmental degradation, deforestation, and pollution. Abdullah Issahaku, the sanctuary’s manager, highlights the urgent need for intervention to protect this crucial conservation area and its socio-economic benefits for the local community.
The Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary is a beacon of ecological preservation and cultural heritage in Ghana’s Upper West Region in the serene landscape along the Black Volta River. Established in 1998 through collaborative efforts of local communities, this sanctuary not only harbours over 50 hippos and 250 bird species but also supports diverse plant life and countless other living creatures.
It serves as the sole tourism site in the region, providing economic opportunities and cultural significance to its surrounding communities.
Recently, however, the sanctuary faces an existential threat from illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey. Abdullah Issahaku, the sanctuary’s manager, expressed grave concerns over the encroachment of galamsey operations into its core zone.
Galamsey operators have installed changfan machines along the riverbanks, a method that involves extensive soil erosion, deforestation, and pollution of water sources.
This encroachment not only disrupts the delicate ecosystem of the sanctuary but also poses risks to the quality of water used by local communities for household and agricultural purposes.
Abdullah Issahaku emphasized, “The Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary is not just an ecological treasure but also a crucial economic and cultural hub.”
He underscored the sanctuary’s role in providing employment opportunities to over 3,000 people and supporting organic shea and groundnut production, which empower over 2,000 women.
Additionally, the sanctuary has been instrumental in providing scholarships and educational support, thereby enhancing the prospects of local youth.
The intrusion of galamsey activities threatens unravelling years of conservation and community development initiatives. Abdullah Issahaku called upon local authorities, including chiefs, district executives, and security agencies, to collaborate urgently to address this menace.
He stressed the need for concerted efforts to safeguard the sanctuary, preserve its biodiversity, and protect the livelihoods it sustains.
The Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary is a poignant example of the broader environmental degradation caused by galamsey activities across Ghana.
Beyond immediate ecological impacts, such activities jeopardize water bodies, forests, and wildlife, impacting the country’s natural heritage and sustainable development goals.
As stakeholders contemplate the necessary actions to mitigate the damage, the fate of the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary hangs in the balance. If left unchecked, the destruction of the sanctuary could lead to irreversible loss of biodiversity, economic opportunities, and cultural heritage, impacting the well-being of the communities it supports. Decisive interventions are urgently needed to secure its future and safeguard the well-being of the communities it supports.
