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Kusi Brako backs use of seized galamsey excavators for drainage works

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Kusi Solomon Brako, has thrown his support behind calls by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, for the government to consider putting excavators seized from illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, to productive use.

Date Created : 10/12/2026 : Story Author : Emmanuel Frimpong/Ghanadistricts.com

The proposal seeks to redirect the use of the seized heavy-duty equipment towards dredging choked drains, desilting waterways and improving drainage systems in communities across the country as part of efforts to tackle persistent flooding and other environmental challenges.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ghanadistricts TV, Mr. Brako said deploying the excavators for drainage and other public infrastructure projects could help address some of Ghana’s pressing developmental needs, particularly in communities where inadequate drainage systems continue to expose residents to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

According to the MCE, the government could turn the equipment confiscated in the fight against illegal mining into valuable public assets by using them to undertake essential development projects that directly benefit communities.

He noted that many areas across the country continue to grapple with poor drainage infrastructure, choked waterways and inadequate maintenance of existing channels, conditions that often impede the free flow of rainwater and increase the risk of flooding.

Mr. Brako therefore urged the government to prioritise communities with inadequate drainage systems and flood-prone settlements in the deployment of the seized excavators. He further called for regular dredging and desilting exercises to ensure that drains and waterways remain functional, particularly during the rainy season.

He stressed that a sustained approach to drainage maintenance would not only improve water flow but also help reduce flood risks, protect lives and property, and minimise the disruption of economic and social activities in affected communities.

The MCE’s comments come at a time when concerns over flooding and the state of drainage infrastructure remain significant in several parts of the country. The proposed intervention, if carefully implemented, could provide an opportunity for the government to address these challenges while ensuring that equipment seized in the fight against illegal mining serves a broader public interest.

His call also follows the completion of dredging works on approximately 500 metres of a drainage channel in Akim Oda, an intervention aimed at improving water flow and reducing the risk of flooding in the area.

While acknowledging the importance of the completed works, Mr. Brako appealed for the dredging exercise to be extended to other flood-prone communities across the Birim Central Municipality.