The Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat of illegal mining (galamsey) around Lake Bosomtwe, warning that the country’s only natural lake must be protected before irreversible damage occurs.

Speaking on the increasing encroachment on the lake via a zoom interview on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Dr. Adutwum urged citizens, traditional authorities, and all relevant stakeholders to unite in safeguarding the water body from illegal mining activities.
“We must be very vigilant over the encroachment on the lake,” he stressed, adding that protecting Lake Bosomtwe is a collective responsibility.

The MP disclosed that he is yet to officially raise the matter on the floor of Parliament but intends to do so in order to push for a comprehensive national response to the growing environmental threat.

According to him, if investigations confirm that the situation has reached dangerous levels, he would advocate for the affected areas around the lake to be declared a no-go zone to halt further destruction.
Dr. Adutwum also revealed that authorities recently received reports of deforestation activities around the lake after traditional leaders and indigenous residents raised the alarm, prompting a swift response was made to salvage the situation.

He noted that while many traditional rulers strongly oppose galamsey activities in their communities, fear and other challenges often make it difficult for them to openly confront those behind the illegal operations.
The Bosomtwe legislator’s comments add to growing calls for urgent action to protect Lake Bosomtwe, a nationally significant ecological and tourism asset, from the devastating impact of illegal mining and environmental degradation.

By Maurice Otoo

Award-winning journalist and anti-galamsey campaigner Erastus Asare Donkor has sounded the alarm over what he describes as the growing threat of illegal mining around Lake Bosomtwe, warning that the environmental treasure is at serious risk if urgent action is not taken.

In a zoom interview on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Donkor asserted that illegal mining activities in the Bosomtwe District have spread far beyond a single community, with armed men allegedly protecting mining sites and making enforcement difficult.

He revealed that illegal mining in the Apamprama Forest, a key area within the Lake Bosomtwe catchment, began around 2018 but went largely unchecked until 2024. He claimed that by then, more than half of the forest had already been destroyed, blaming years of inaction by authorities.

Donkor cautioned that once gold is discovered in an area, miners quickly flock to the site, making it increasingly difficult to stop the destruction unless authorities intervene immediately.

While acknowledging the efforts of the National Intelligence and Monitoring System (NIMOS), he argued that the agency cannot win the fight against galamsey alone. He called for a decentralized response, proposing that local response teams made up of indigenous residents be stationed permanently around the lake to monitor and tackle illegal mining before it escalates.

He also criticized what he described as a reactive approach by national authorities, saying it is ineffective for response teams to settle in Accra in waiting for reports before taking action.
Donkor further expressed disappointment over comments reportedly made by the Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, Engr. Abdullah Hamidu, who allegedly dismissed the activities as something other than galamsey and claimed they were not close to the lake. The anti-galamsey crusader maintained that the threat to the Lake Bosomtwe ecosystem is real and urged local authorities to take decisive action.

He warned that unless immediate measures are taken, continued illegal mining around the lake’s catchment could have devastating consequences for Ghana’s only natural lake, its surrounding forests, biodiversity, tourism, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on it

A Los Angeles jury has ordered singer Chris Brown to pay nearly $13 million in damages after finding him liable in a lawsuit filed by his former housekeeper, who was severely injured in a dog attack at his California home in 2020.

The verdict followed a two-week trial in which jurors ruled that Brown and his company, Black Pyramid LLC, were negligent after Maria Avila was attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian Shepherd kept at Brown’s residence in Tarzana, California.

According to the ruling, Maria Avila was awarded $12.9 million in damages for the life-changing injuries she suffered. Her sister, Patricia Avila, who witnessed the attack while working at the property, received $885,000 for emotional distress. Maria’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was also awarded $50,000.

Maria Avila’s attorney, Michael C. Murphy Jr., welcomed the verdict, describing it as long-awaited justice after more than five years of legal proceedings. He said he was pleased that the family had finally received accountability for what they endured.

During the trial, Brown argued that the dog was kept solely for security purposes and was not his personal pet. He also testified that he had previously warned Maria and Patricia not to go outside unless security personnel were present because of the dogs. However, both women denied receiving such a warning, adding that language barriers would have made such a conversation difficult.

Jurors also heard testimony that after the attack, Brown left the property instead of calling emergency services or assisting the injured housekeeper. Evidence presented in court suggested he drove away for several hours because he feared attracting media attention, leaving employees to contact first responders.

Maria Avila told the court that the attack left her with permanent facial and arm injuries. She underwent multiple surgeries, including skin grafts taken from her abdomen to reconstruct her left arm. Despite treatment, she continues to experience limited mobility and has been unable to return to work as a housekeeper.

She also testified that the traumatic experience has left her suffering from post-traumatic stress, making it difficult for her to be around dogs or resume her previous occupation.

Her daughter told the jury that the incident dramatically changed her mother’s life, saying she had become withdrawn and no longer enjoyed social activities. She explained that Maria avoids public gatherings, dislikes having photographs taken, and has lost the confidence she once had.

Brown also testified during the trial, saying he heard the dog growling while preparing to shower and rushed outside, where he found Maria lying on the ground covered in blood. He admitted the scene shocked him and said his manager advised him to leave before emergency responders arrived, a decision he attributed to concerns over intense media attention.

The verdict was delivered just days after Brown launched his co-headlining U.S. stadium tour with Usher, which includes two scheduled performances at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles later this year.