Residents of Ayinase in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region have arrested three Chinese nationals and their Ghanaian counterparts for engaging in unregulated mining also known as ‘galamsey’ in the area.
Assembly member for Ayinase, Justice Kojo Boah, who disclosed the news to Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson, the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa Morning Show, indicated that the Chinese illegal miners have been in the area for over six months destroying lands and river bodies.
He adds that several complaints to the police and local authorities to act have proven unsuccessful.
“For the past six months, these Chinese illegal miners have been in our area destroying our rivers and forests. We have reported them to the police on several occasions but nobody is acting, authorities in the district are aware of the situation but they don’t want to do anything about it so we decided to go to their site and arrest them,” he indicated.
He indicates that the suspects have since been handed over to the Ayinase Police Station for further investigations.
“We have taken them to the police station. Some residents have told us they will be released in no time but we want to wait and see what will happen. We have also seized their equipment as evidence so we believe the police will process them for court.
“They have been leaving open pits in our communities after their illegal mining. Just recently, one young boy died in one of the abandoned pits and we cannot wait for more to follow. We shall continue to arrest them until our community is free from illegal miners,” he added.
By Eric Nana Gyetuah|ConnectFM|Takoradi
