The Jomoro Municipal Taskforce in the Western Region, set up by the Chief Executive, Benedict Boadi, in collaboration with the Municipal Police Command and the Blue Water Guard, has burnt three changfans and six water pumping machines which were being used for illegal mining activities in forests and water bodies in the municipality.
The task force also took into custody the remaining six of the water pumping machines when the perpetrators bolted as soon as they spotted the security personnel.
The illegal miners were operating in water bodies and forests in communities such as Ghana Nungua, Cocoa Town, Nsuano and Apatase, all in the Elubo enclave. Some of the tributaries of the River Tano are also involved.
In Apatase, cocoa farms were being destroyed at the time the security pounced on them, but they escaped and left behind their equipment.
The MCE, Benjamin Boadi, said, “Previously, these activities were nonexistent until recently surfaced”.
“Recently, people have started to engage in illegal mining in these areas, so this is our first time getting intel. We have already taken notice of these activities happening within the municipality, but little did we know it was gradually escalating into a large-scale activity”.
Mr Boadi said, “As the MCE, I want to serve a strong-worded warning to any potential galamseyer that here is a no-go area for such activities, and anyone caught will be dealt with rigorously”.
“We have whistleblowers at every place to leak intel to the taskforce regarding suspected illegal mining activities,” he added.
The MCE said, “Notwithstanding that, the government has brought a programme to promote environmentally friendly mining activities called cooperative mining, so anybody who has an interest in going into mining can do so by getting the cooperative mining license in order to undertake proper mining practices”.
By Timothy Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana
