The Obuasi Airstrip is now surrounded by deep pits and polluted water bodies, as illegal miners continue to expand their illicit operations beyond boundaries.
Scores of the miners are back. Loud excavator engines crank as huge metallic bucket scoop through the land in search of gold.
Sometime last week, NAIMOS swooped the area; nine excavators were seized and demobilized.
However, the operation did little in warding off the illegal miners.
Large tract of vegetation reduced to pits, water bodies blocked by heap of sand.
“You sack them today, tomorrow they are back. We are appealing to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources if they can even set up a military base, it will help” Faustilove Appiah Kani, the Chairperson of the Municipal Security Council told 3news.
Deputy Regional Security liaison, Alhaji Nje Abdalla Omar described the situation as worrying but said the “Regional Security Council remains resolute in its fight against illegal mining.”
