The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah has revealed that persons found engaging in illegal mining would be arrested and prosecuted.
This, he mentioned forms part of the Western Regional Coordinating Council’s (WRCC) effort to support the fight against illegal activities, and deter bigwigs from engaging in such heinous ventures.
He made this statement during a staff durbar at the Shama District Assembly as part of his working tour into the District.
He further stated that excavators found on illegal mining sites risk being destroyed.
Mr. Darko Mensah noted that the WRCC has adopted an anti-galamsey strategy as a way of protecting the region and also ensuring that there’s sustainable mining in the country.
He said,” now the position of the WRCC is to arrest and prosecute anybody involved in illegal mining activities which also includes illegal clay mining activities which I know is endemic somehow in the Shama District.
Also, any equipment we find on illegal mining sites would be burnt and destroyed because we want to deter the so-called big men investment in the destruction of our water bodies and environment.”
Honorable Darko Mensah thus tasked all district mining committees to set up community taskforces along the river banks in the region to augment the work of the permanent river guards to stop illegal miners.
