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The Bekwai Traditional Council has joined the fight to stop illegal mining, urging the government to take drastic measures to rein in the miners. The chiefs at a press conference held in Bekwai, expressed concern about the numerous deep uncovered mining pits left in communities across the traditional area, which had been posing major threat and endangering the lives of the people.
Added to this is the massive destruction of the environment – farmlands and water bodies. Nana Ntiamoah Amankuo II, the acting President of the Council, stated that the devastation could not continue. He said they wanted to see firm and decisive action to flush out those who had chosen to engage in reckless conduct – destroying the vegetation and polluting streams and rivers.
It should not be a one-off but sustained campaign he added, and pledged to give strong backing to any steps taken to restore sanity. Nana Amankuo also called for the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make sure that people licensed to engage in mining did the right thing.
They should insist that small-scale miners conformed to environmental safety standards. The Bekwai Divisional Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Allen Pogtaah, who was invited to the conference, some chiefs were to blame for the illegal mining.
They are actively involved in wrong things happening. He asked anybody eager to engage in small scale mining to go through the legal process.
