[Videos+Photos]: The current state of River Tano due to illegal mining
The debate on the rising illegal mining across the country has captured major Ghanaian and international news headlines in the midst of government’s efforts to end the illegal mining activities popularly called “Galamsey”
As govermment intensify its National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining and nationwide activities undertaken by Ghana Police Service Operations Vanguard to end the activity, a viral video on the current state of River Tano due to the activities of illegal mining in the Amenfi West District surfaced causing the public talking.
The visit of Western Regional Minister Kwabenya Okyere Darko Mensah together with the Municipal Chief Executive of Amenfi West to the place on Wednesday, April 20, 2021 has disclosed how bad the mining activities in the area has polluted River Tano.
READ ALSO:Â Operation Vanguard storms Tano River, seizes 16 excavators use for illegal mining
The operation led by the Western Regional Minister Kwabenya Okyere Darko Mensah together with the Municipal Chief Executive of Amenfi West, saw a total of sixteen (16) excavators which were used to mine directly on the Tano River being seized and handed over to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor.
Earlier, similar operation undertaken by the Ghana Police Service Operations Vanguard resulted in 59 Changfang motors belonging to Illegal miners in the Western Region being destroyed within four days.
Police Operations Vanguard destroys 59 changfang motors of illegal miners
Meanwhile, the illegal miners were warned to stop the act or be arrested to face the full rigours of the law. The Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor in his media briefing said, they will ensure that, equipment and heavy machines used by the illegal miners will be destroyed as part of their mandate to curb illegal mining activities and water pollution in Ghana.
According to him, the activities of these floating boats on the rivers among others are the main cause of the poor water tepidity.
Land owners in Upper West illegally selling shea trees to entrepreneurs for firewood
In another Advocacy, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who has pledged his commitment to totally eradicate illegal mining “Galamsey” said he hope Ghana will build a national consensus around a national policy on small scale mining, that promotes a responsible, viable, environmentally sustainable small-scale mining industry, which has discarded the use of mercury, chanfans and excavators, which has barred the involvement of foreign nationals, and which has rejected the destruction of our forests, environment and water bodies.
The President reiterated this while delivering the keynote address at the maiden National Dialogue Consultative on Small Scale Mining, organized by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
