Galamsey destroys section of Western Railway corridor at Tarkwa-Nsuaem

A major portion of the Western Railway Corridor near Bonsawere in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region has been left in ruins following extensive illegal mining activities along the line.

The encroachment, which has gone on for months, has caused severe structural damage to the rail tracks and surrounding earth embankments.

The affected stretch forms part of the railway route linking Nsuta to the Takoradi Harbour, an important transport corridor for hauling manganese and other minerals. However, operations on the line have been inactive for more than a year, creating an opportunity for illegal miners—popularly called galamseyers—to take over the area in search of gold.

Residents say the absence of regular train movement and security patrols has allowed miners to freely dig around and beneath the railway tracks. Deep pits, makeshift tunnels, and heaps of excavated soil now surround the line, leaving it dangerously unstable.

In some sections, the tracks are hanging loosely as the ground beneath them has been washed away.

Engineers familiar with the Western Corridor warn that the destruction may extend beyond the immediate Bonsawere stretch if the situation is not contained. They fear that continued mining activity could lead to landslides and undermine any future rehabilitation works planned for the railway.

“The entire area has been riddled with holes. It’s unsafe even for people to walk near the tracks,” one local resident said. “If the authorities don’t move in quickly, there will be nothing left to repair.”

Community members are also appealing to the Ghana Railway Development Authority and the Minerals Commission to intervene urgently. They believe stronger enforcement is needed to prevent illegal miners from encroaching on critical national infrastructure.

The Western Railway line, which runs from Takoradi through Nsuta to Awaso, has long suffered from neglect, erosion, and operational challenges. The recent illegal mining activities have further compounded the problem, raising fears that the country could lose a vital transport asset if decisive action is not taken soon.