The authority of traditional deities, particularly river gods, is being questioned as discussions intensify over the alarming rise in illegal mining (galamsey) and its devastating effects on Ghana.
The once pristine rivers of Ghana, now tainted brown and polluted, have sparked widespread outrage. The environmental toll of galamsey is severe, with rivers like the Bonsa and the Pra suffering from intense pollution due to harmful chemicals used by illegal miners. Forest reserves such as Tano Nimiri and the Draw River have also been heavily impacted.
The rapid degradation of these natural resources has led civil society groups, traditional leaders, policy analysts, opposition members, and many concerned Ghanaians to raise alarms about the environmental damage and resource depletion caused by these illegal mining activities.
Amid this growing crisis, media personality Nana Aba Anamoah has taken to social media to voice her concerns. She is among many who believe that the traditional supernatural beings, particularly the river gods, should take action against those desecrating their sacred environments.
Other users shared their concerns as follows: “Gods don’t take disrespect. The moment you disrespect or desecrate their sacredness, they leave and find somewhere. Most of these rivers have lost their Sacredness.”
“The deities of our rivers are sacred, once you desecrate and destroy their abode, they abandon you. They won’t strike you down and kill you like we see in the movies. Our societies no longer have any ancestral and spiritual connection to the land. The gods have deserted us!!”
“god of river Pra we beg you to avenge your population by politicians.”
“It’s a metaphor our ancestors used to convey the importance of respecting nature, particularly water. When they spoke of rivers as having power or divine significance, it wasn’t necessarily about literal magic or gods intervening in human affairs. It was an intuitive way of expressing the idea that water is essential to life and, therefore, deserving of reverence. The truth is, the consequences of polluting water don’t require divine intervention they unfold through the natural systems we depend on. Pollutants introduced into our rivers end up in the earth’s water cycle, poisoning the plants we eat and the ecosystems we rely on. Eventually, those same chemicals make their way into our bodies. This is not the work of gods, but a predictable outcome of environmental neglect. The lesson our ancestors were conveying is one of responsibility, not superstition.”