Five people have been arrested in connection with illegal mining activities in some communities along the River Offin in the Ashanti Region, including Assembly Member for the Kotokuom Electoral Area, Akwasi Poku.
The four other suspects were apprehended in the Atwima Mponua District at Abompe, Abaasua, Amaada, and Agogoso.
Nana Yaw Owusu, Nana Appiah, Opanyin Kuffour, and Opanyin Kwaku Duah are their names. They are among seven elders chosen to serve as Dikro in the absence of a Kokotuom chief.
They have been turned over to the Nyinahini Police for legal action.
Operation
During the two-day operation, a task force assembled by the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) in collaboration with the district assembly impounded and burned down 300 chanfans used in their activities.
When the task force arrived, a large number of illegal miners fled, leaving their mining equipment behind.
Meanwhile, Poku’s arrest is significant because residents allege he has been at the forefront of illegal mining activities in the area, with the support of some traditional leaders.
Tour
As part of the campaign against illegal mining in the area, the task force led some selected media outlets on a tour of the polluted Offin River and destroyed forest reserves last Monday.
The Vice-President of GNASSM, Sampson Kofi Wiredu, explained that the tour was intended to provide the media with information about what was going on and to confirm that some traditional leaders and people in positions of authority were deeply involved in illegal mining, which was threatening their jobs.
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He stated that the association was eager to assist the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in combating the social scourge.
“People are deeply involved in galamsey, and it affects all of us.” “We will expose and report any traditional leader found to be involved in illegal activities in his community,” Mr Wiredu warned.
He commended residents for giving the hint which led to the arrest of the assembly member, saying that all needed to come on board to fight the menace.
DCE
The District Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Kofi Marfo, pledged to support the association to flush out all those engaged in illegal mining activities on the river and the forest reserves in the district.
Source: JoyNews
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