Wassa Chiefs worried over upsurge of small-scale mining

Wassa-Akropong(W/R), April 20, GNA - Chiefs and other opinion leaders in most communities in the Wassa Amenfi East district have called on the Government to take urgent measures to check illegal mining activities that was adversely affecting the health, environment and social lives of the people.

At an emergency meeting to discuss the issue at Wassa-Akropong on Tuesday they pledged to support effective measures that would ensure sanity, the well being and security of the people.

Nana Kwame Dawka II, Chief of Wantram, Nana Kofi Dubeng, Chief of Nkyiase and Nana Gyakwao, Chief of Adesu were their spokesmen. They said activities of illegal miners mostly from Prestea, Bogoso, Tarkwa and other areas that had invaded the area were to the detriment of residents who were mostly cocoa and food crop farmers. "The rate at which these "galamsey" operators are degrading the environment is alarming and every effort must be made to check this. Rivers and other water bodies on which the people depend for water is being polluted with impunity," Nana Gyakwao said.

Mr Eric Coffie Rivers, Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners said the association would cooperate with the Government and other stakeholders to safeguard the environment. He said as custodians of the land, chiefs had the duty to resist all negative practices that adversely affected the welfare of the people. Mr Rivers stressed the need for miners to ensure the registration and licensing of their companies with the Minerals Commission for effective monitoring and regulation of their operations.