Brenu Akyinim: The peaceful coastal town of Brenu Akyinim, near Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality, has metamorphosed into a chaotic illegal mining scene with many children abandoning their education for galamsey.
According to Ghana News Agency, the fishing community is rapidly transforming into an unregulated mining hub, driven by desperate unemployed youths. At Brenu Akyinim M/A Basic School, nearly all 13 boys writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) secretly engage in the hazardous practice of illegal mining, known locally as ‘galamsey’. Meanwhile, 19 girls in the same class support these activities by fetching water for a fee, to ease their financial burden.
Under cover of darkness, these young miners earn between 100 and 200 cedis daily, laboring through the night along the community’s scenic beachfront while their teachers, unknowingly, catch some rest.
Some students openly expressed joy about their new livelihood in separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency. Seventeen-year-old Kojo (borrowed name) said, ‘School takes too long to make money. Here, I can earn some daily income to help my family put food on the table.’ Similarly, 15-year-old ‘Ama’ in the company of her mother told GNA, ‘My parents are poor and they depend on what I make every day from mining at night to fend for the family.’
Two of the students lamented how pulling an all-nighter before school harms cognitive function, mood, physical health, and academic performance. Though they all complained about difficulty in concentrating in class, they were still resolute to engage in illegal mining to support themselves and their family.
Their vows were corroborated by Mr. Jefta Dadzie, the Headteacher of the school, who said the nocturnal toil of the students comes at a huge cost. He lamented a sharp decline in attendance and academic performance, particularly among the boys shortly after the BECE registration. He said many students arrive at school usually appearing pale, weak, and dizzy, and typically unable or unwilling to complete homework.
Mr. Dadzie painted a grim picture: ‘My students have become more money-driven and indifferent to their education. They’re not learning; they’re competing with adults for gold. They barely sleep.’ He warned that this trend threatens not only the future of the children but also the community’s social fabric.
Mr. Dadzie blamed the situation primarily on parental neglect, poverty, the perceived lack of employment opportunities after school, and disinterest in schooling. He said many children come from poor families and start mining part-time to support themselves or their families financially, but the lure of quick money from illegal mining often outweighs the perceived long-term benefits of education.
A parent, Madam Abrefi, pointed out that some parents rely heavily on the income their children bring from mining despite the risks, thereby confirming the views of the Headteacher.
On the health front, the GNA’s visit to the community revealed a huge dangerously dug out trenches just 10 meters from the Brenu Akyinim CHPS compound, the only health center serving over 1,000 residents in the area. Dr. Martin Danko, who is in charge of the facility, stated that if the health center falls, residents would have to travel miles to Elmina for basic care, undermining the CHPS system’s purpose.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Daniel Burknor Mensah, expressed deep concern over the trend, warning of long-term consequences for community development and health. Despite public education campaigns, durbars, and arrests, children continue to leave school for hazardous mining.
To reintegrate students who have abandoned school for illegal mining in Brenu Akyinim, stakeholders have recommended a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. Efforts should focus on raising community awareness and educating parents about the long-term benefits of education compared to the short-term gains from illegal mining.
A coordinated effort among parents, schools, community leaders, and government agencies is essential to enforce laws preventing child involvement in illegal mining to foster an environment that prioritizes education over mining activities.
Strengthening healthcare facilities to address mining-related illnesses, enforcing environmental regulations to protect water and land resources, and providing viable economic alternatives for youth are critical steps toward restoring social stability and promoting sustainable development in Brenu Akyinim.