It was a dramatic scene in the early hours of Thursday, September 30, 2021, when members of the Operation halt, together with deputy lands minister, Hon. George Mireku Duker, clamped down on illegal mining activities in cocoa farms and along the Pra River in the Birim North and Asante-Akyem districts and as a result, deprived the galamseyers of their heavily prepared meal.

The Operation which halted the breakfast feast which was made of beans mixed with rice cooked together by these illegal miners was found getting cold whiles illegal miners run for their lives.

Seven (7) arrests made were predominantly foreigners from Burkina Faso, Benin et al. They are in Police custody and will be prosecuted.

Thirty (30) changfan machines and surface structures were destroyed and burnt.

The Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem made the averment that the crackdown on illegal mining is going to continue until the government and Ghanaians are satisfied with the state of our water bodies.

“It’s very worrying that Ghanaians are drinking from diverted water that has been polluted by mercury. Farmers are also complaining that their farms are being destroyed. The Pra River has been diverted and polluted and I believe it’s time for all Ghanaians to come on board to help fight it. We cannot fight it alone. All hands must be on deck to fight illegal mining.

“I’m happy the security apparatus is helping us and I’m calling on all Ghanaians must be alert and help fight this. These people are going to be prosecuted and we are going to continue unabated”, he said.

Hon. George Mireku Duker is on a tour in the Eastern Region to have first-hand information on the operations of the anti-galamsey taskforce.

The visit will see him stage an unannounced visit to some mining sites as well as water bodies in the Region.

Story by: Kwaku Stephen