WASSA EAST DISTRICT: ILLEGAL MINERS ARRESTED

RIVER PRAH DABAOSE

WASSA EAST DISTRICT:  ILLEGAL MINERS ARRESTED

Four foreign nationals and their Ghanaian partner has been arrested during a joint swoop between the Western Regional (REGSEC) and Wassa East District Security Committees (DISEC) at Sekyere Obuase in the Western Region.

 

The foreigners were two Chinese and two Italians by the name Cincenzo Stayone and Cielo Dandiela.

The joint operation was led by the Deputy Western Regional Minister and the Wassa East District Chief Executive, Hon. Alfred Ekow Gyan and Hon. Anthony Emmanuel Aggrey respectively.

The exercise was in response to the directives issued by President John Mahama to all MMDAs to raid in on all illegal miners and chain saw operators from their respective jurisdiction. 

Upon questioning the Ghanaian partner, Mr. Prince Baidoo claimed ownership to the activities at the place and also said the foreign nationals were shareholders.

When asked to produce permit of operation, Mr. Baidoo could not produce one but rather showed to the team a letter dated 2010 from the minerals commission acknowledging receipt of his application.

Mr. Baidoo also denied that the company was into mining and said they were only prospecting for special rock.

Briefing the press, the Deputy Western Regional Minister Hon. Alfred Ekow Gyan said even if the company has a concession to mine at the place, it was against the law to mine about 50 metres to the Pra River.

He bemoaned the damage and cost that the activities of illegal miners have brought to the region and the country as a whole.

He further explained that due to the activities of the illegal miners Government of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company spends millions of cedis for the treatment of water for domestic use.

Hon. Gyan added that all water bodies in the region are now in a sorry site to see, thereby eroding the pride that the people take in such resource.

The Deputy Minister, however, gave a strong worded words to persons engaged in illegal mining and chain saw operators that the security council will not rest until they arrest all of them for engaging in illegal activity.

In a related development, the Wassa East District Assembly has met opinion leaders and assembly members to deliberate on the president’s directives.

At the meeting the opinion leaders and the assembly members agreed to support the directives. They also called for frequent swoops by the District Security Committee on the activities of illegal miners and chain saw operators.

The District Chief Executive for Wassa East urged the leaders not to relent on their efforts to inform the assembly on the activities of illegal miners and also form committees in their respective communities to fight the menace.

He also admonished them not to be selfish by releasing land meant for posterity for their personal gains.

 

Meanwhile the Wassa East District Assembly has passed a resolution to arrest and prosecute chiefs who release land to be used for illegal mining and chain saw activities.

security personal at the side

Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon. Alfred Gyan

with back facing the camera interacting with one of the galamsey operators