Former deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor has stated that the fight against illegal mining must be intensified to ensure the tragedy that occurred at Kubekrom-Abease near Prestea Nsuta in the Western region does not recur.

An illegal mining pit on Monday July 3, 2017 caved at there, killing 20 people, according to figures from rescue team following closure of the pit which is 80 metres deep Friday July 7, 2017.

The rescue mission was suspended due to the weak nature of the pit, the deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio explained. Six bodies were retrieved from it.

The chairman of the Peoples’ National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah has criticized the move describing it as saddening.

For him, the 20 declared dead were condemned because “they are involved in galamsey [illegal mining].

“I feel sad about it,” he stated on Morning Starr Friday July 7, 2017.

Speaking on News file Saturday July 8, 2017, Mr. Jinapor urged that the dreadful tragedy should serve as a wakeup call in the fight against the scourge that has destroyed most of the country’s water bodies.

According to him, the tragedy is an indication that the country ought to take a more “holistic and all-encompassing approach” to fight the menace.

“This should be the end of it. This should be the last of such a major disaster because clearly it is avoidable if we had taken the necessary precautionary measures and gone through the processes,” he stated.