As dawn breaks in a remote part of western Ghana, volunteers including a priest, farmers, and local residents embark on patrols through the forests.

They are part of a growing movement that has been active for over a year as a grassroots effort to combat the surge in illicit gold mining.

This practice has tainted rivers in Ghana, Africa's leading gold-producing nation, with toxic substances.

The formation of these task forces is partly driven by concern over the attraction of unemployed youth to galamsey due to its promise of quick wealth, at the expense of the country’s economy.

According to Swissaid, a development nonprofit, Ghana has lost $11.4 billion in revenue to gold smuggling over the past five years.

The Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocacy, consisting of 14 members, has sparked debate within Ghana's Western North region by apprehending suspected miners.

This group points to the relatively clean water bodies within the 450-square-kilometer (173-square-mile) Jema area as evidence of their success in curbing galamsey activities.

The prevalence of galamsey mining remains a significant concern across the nation, which has seen its economy weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflation soared to a 21-year high, and nearly 39 percent of youth are unemployed, driving many into the illicit gold mining business.

This activity has contaminated large portions of Ghana’s water bodies with hazardous substances like cyanide and mercury, according to government reports and environmental groups.

As of January 2024, there were reported instances of galamsey activities in 44 out of Ghana's 288 forest reserves, with nine completely overtaken by armed thugs.

The Jema community, empowered by a law granting local chiefs the power to enforce customary laws, banned all mining activities on its land in 2015.

The task force, which includes local leaders and custodians of the land, conducts weekly patrols through water bodies and the Jema Forest Reserve, using sticks instead of weapons.

They monitor for changes in water color as a sign of upstream mining activities and look out for new clearings in the forest.

On receiving tip-offs from residents, they apprehend suspects and hand them over to district police offices.

So far, the task force has arrested two Nigerien nationals attempting to mine gold, sparking calls for special courts dedicated to prosecuting such cases.

Members of the task force assert that their efforts fill a void left by inadequate government enforcement measures.

Their patrols are fraught with danger; they receive death threats and have noted signs indicating recent mining activities upstream.

The group's work reflects a nationwide movement against galamsey, which saw massive protests last year calling for stronger governmental action against the practice.

President John Mahama has responded by forming a national task force to combat galamsey but has dismissed calls for declaring a state of emergency, arguing that his government is still exploring alternative solutions.

Critics argue that the government's inability to effectively address the issue points to a lack of political will.

The Jema task force operates independently from security forces and has raised concerns about potential human rights abuses if not regulated by the state.

There are also internal divisions within the community, with some residents supporting the miners for financial benefits and others advocating for environmental protection.

The community is exploring sustainable alternatives to galamsey, such as converting the Jema Forest Reserve into a tourism park.

While local action provides immediate solutions, experts suggest that a more regulated approach may be necessary to avoid potential abuses.