Gov’t told to be firm on illegal miners

Stakeholders at a mineral and mining workshop at Shama in the Western Region have underscored the need for Government to take a firm stance against illegal mining in the country.

The stakeholders, comprising traditional authorities, opinion leaders, assembly members and operators in the industry observed that illegal mining is impacting negatively on the socio-economic lives of Ghanaians, as it is degrading the environment and polluting water-bodies.

They said a concrete stance from the government would go a long way to influence decisions from the communities affected by the activities of galamsey operators. 

In the interim, Nana TwenTwen Sarfo III, chief of Atwereboada in the Shama district who made the call, appealed to Government to find an alternative source of potable water for communities whose water-bodies have been polluted by activities of the illegal miners. 

Nana TwenTwen said water in the river Pra, which is their main source of potable water, has become contaminated.

The workshop on small-scale mining, environmental and community issues relating to industrial mineral operations was organised by the Takoradi office of the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission.

Participants were drawn from Shama, Beposo, Tarkwa and the nearby communities.

Meanwhile, Nana Pansor IV, Chief of Supomu -- also in the Shama district, called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to inform chiefs each time land in their area is going to be used for mining operations.

He alleged that in spite of notices placed at the assemblies to this effect, information did not get to the chiefs, saying: “All we see is that some people have come to my land and are working”.