Four Candidates writing the 2015 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) at the Mensonso D/A Junior High School (JHS) in the Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region have abandoned their examinations to engage in illegal Mining activities popularly called ‘Galamsey’.

Out of 253 who registered for the examination, 248 candidates were present as the four male students were said to have abandoned school to join their colleagues at the Galamsey pits.

The other female student who was also absent was said to be pregnant.

This was revealed when the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Regional Director of Education toured some of the examination centers in the region.

Supervisors at another center in the district reported that three (3) female students were pregnant, but were present to write the English Language and Religious and Moral Education papers.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Peter Anerfi Mensah expressed worry over the development and assured his outfit’s readiness to address the ‘Galamsey’ menace head on.

He said the activities of illegal miners were destroying farmlands and water bodies in farming communities in the region.

According to him, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Regional Anti-Galamsey Taskforce were putting measures in place to address the devastation such activities caused the communities.

“Actually that practice is quite disturbing and it is time we got rid of it from our system. It is not only the students abandoning the classrooms to engage in the activities, but the devastation it causes to the environment,” he stressed.

The Minister was however impressed about the attendance at some centers he toured.

Ashanti Regional Education Director, Mrs Mary Owusu Achiaw has warned the directorate would deal with any candidate or examination supervisor who indulged in examination malpractices.