Perseus Mining Ghana has warned that illegal mining along the Ayanfuri-Diaso highway could eventually make the route impassable, disrupting transport and cutting off communities that rely on the road.
Alexander Kofi Oduro, General Manager of Perseus Mining Ghana’s Edikan Mine, said increasing encroachment by illegal miners posed an immediate threat to the link between Ayanfuri and Diaso. He called for urgent action to prevent access along the highway from being completely severed.
Mr Oduro made the warning on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during a working visit to the mining company by Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson.
“If this section is cut off, the route from Ayanfuri to Diaso will be completely blocked,” he said.
Perseus Mining’s Edikan Mine operates across the Western and Central Regions, where it contributes to employment and economic activity. However, the company says illegal mining has caused extensive environmental damage in and around its operational areas.
Mr Oduro said the activities had led to significant loss of vegetation and pollution of nearby water bodies. He warned that continued encroachment beside the highway could ultimately render the road unusable.
Vegetation loss and water pollution
A comparison of environmental conditions in 2022 and 2026 showed substantial vegetation loss between the highway and the mine’s heap-leach area, according to Mr Oduro. He attributed the change to illegal mining.
He also referred to aerial photographs of the Abenabena area taken in 2018 and 2025. The earlier images showed a green landscape, while those taken in 2025 recorded widespread vegetation clearance and severe environmental degradation.
Mr Oduro said the photographs demonstrated the scale of the destruction and the need to protect the vegetation that remains, as well as nearby communities.
He separately raised concerns about the condition of the Asuafu canal or stream, saying it had deteriorated considerably as a result of illegal mining. Images from 2018 showed the water body in a relatively clean state, in sharp contrast to its current condition.
The General Manager warned that continued pollution and wider environmental degradation could threaten natural resources and undermine efforts to maintain safe and sustainable mining operations.
He described illegal mining as Perseus Mining’s biggest challenge and said limited employment opportunities in surrounding communities had made the situation worse. Some residents, he added, had turned to illegal mining because they lacked sufficient alternative sources of employment.
Mr Oduro called for closer cooperation between government agencies, traditional authorities, local communities and other stakeholders. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with them to promote responsible mining, protect the environment and maintain peaceful relations with host communities.
Mr Nelson acknowledged Perseus Mining’s concerns over encroachment on its concession. He said the engagement was an important step towards a lasting solution, allowing regional leaders and relevant stakeholders to examine the challenges and agree appropriate interventions.
The minister expressed optimism that continued dialogue and cooperation could address the encroachment while safeguarding both the company’s operations and the interests of surrounding communities.
