Joy News investigations have revealed rampant conversion of huge farm lands into deep galamsey pits in Kyebi in the Eastern region.

The effect of the illegal mining on residents is very devastating and appears to have been under-reported.

Young people there have dug galamsey pits on every available land and have polluted the main source of water.

The situation has forced the Ghana Water Company to shut down its treatment plant in the area.

The illegal mining received unprecedented attention when a royal of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area accused the Okyehene of complicity in the illegal mining. A charge the king has vehemently denied.

Joy News’ Sammy Darko and Benjamin Henaku have been into some of the pits in Kyebi and reported of young and energetic men engaging in the illegal mining with so much impunity in the outskirts of the town.

The workers dig and sift through red soils in between houses and school compounds in dire search for gold.

A cocoa farmer named only as Bukari lamented how his farm he had worked on for over 50 years was taken over by the galamsey operators after the land owners sold the land for bigger money.

According to the residents, the cost of living has become so expensive because the youth have given up on farming and have taken to galamsey.

The activities of the galamsey operators have affected water supply in the area in unimaginable ways, with the residents resorting to the use of pure water and bore holes.