A shrine believed to shield illegal miners along the Ankobra River was left deserted on Monday when its caretaker priest vanished moments before an anti-galamsey operation began. The joint taskforce—made up of the Western Regional National Security and the Western Naval Command—arrived to find the site abandoned but intact. Authorities say the riverside shrine, dedicated to the deity Togbe Nana Benin, was thought to offer spiritual protection to miners operating illegally in the Western Region. Communities still depend on the riverDespite heavy contamination, the Ankobra remains essential for many residents. Daavi Akorfa, a food vendor who serves miners, said locals still draw water from the river.