Relentless clampdown of illegal miners by National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards has resulted in the arrest of three illegal miners at the Asamankese/Akanten area of Birem Municipality.
Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi (1st from right) and Head of Communications at Minerals Commission, Dela Edem addressing the media
Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi announced this at a press conference held on Friday as part of Weekly Update Anti-Galamsey update.
She explained that on Tuesday when NAIMOs stormed the aforementioned community, they saw illegal miners mining close to the road side and arrested them.
“When they got to kyenkyeku they [NAIMOS] realized they were mining close to road side and they picked them up”, Ms Mawusi emphasized.
Head of Communications at Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi
She disclosed that items seized include 12 excavators , a number of Fuel drums 3motorbikes Computer monitors and Excavator batteries.
At Tarkwa Nsuem District, near River Bonsa in the Western Region, the Director of Communications revealed that the Blue Water Guards also made some arrests including seisure of 22 pumping machines and 18 changfans.
She added that at Prestea Huni Valley the illegal Miners had encroached a cocoa farm and busily engaging in galamsey.
Mawusi stressed that the swift response of the Blue Water Guards resulted in the re-possession of the cocoa farms.
She later gave the assurance that the Sector Minister is committed to the anti-galamsey fight and rhat the Ministry will be relentless and brutal in the fight against what has become an environmental terrorism.
“ I do not breathe a different water from yours. We are in this together. Government is unwavering in the fight against galamsey”, she said.
On his part, the Head of Communications at the Minerals Commission, Dela Edem said the Commission is reviewing the mining policy to tighten the loop-holes in order to curtail mass issuance of licenses, a situation he said breeds illegal mining.
He was optimistic that the review of the policy, together with the operations of NAIMOS would help curb the illegal mining.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
