Asantehene registers displeasure about surge in illegal mining

Kumasi, Aug. 24, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has registered his displeasure about the surge in illegal mining and called on the Ministry of Land, Forestry and Mines to move quickly to deal with the problem.

He said the brazen and daring nature of the illegal miners gives cause for concern.

A statement issued by the Manhyia Palace and signed by the Media Relations Manager, Mr George B. Osei-Antwi in Kumasi, said the Asantehene expressed the sentiment at a meeting with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said reports that some foreigners were supplying the illegal miners with mining equipment had added another dimension to the problem.

He said the Palace has received information that some of these heavy equipment had been sent to Ntobroso in the Atwima area and that the miners have started clearing lands there to begin digging for the ore.

Again, the management of Anglogold, Obuasi, has complained to him about the operations of illegal miners, who have invaded its mining concession and threatening the Company's security men.

The situation where these people enter the forest reserves without permission, pollute water bodies and are causing unimaginable havoc to the environment should not be allowed to continue, the statement said.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said if the solution to the problem is to find some concession for the illegal miners and issue them with licenses to legitimatize their operations, the Mines Ministry should do just that.

Mr Opoku-Manu, who was at the Palace to welcome the Asantehene from his one month vacation, said he shared the concerns of Otumfuo Osei Tutu and described as worrying, the situation where the illegal miners carry guns and other deadly weapons for the operations.