Galamsey: 14 illegal miners arrested

Fourteen illegal miners operating on the Offin River at Manso Keniago in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region have been arrested.

The galamsey operators who were arrested by a combined team of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), the Amansie West District Assembly’s taskforce and the police, have been handed over to the Manso Nkwanta police for further action.

About 86 equipment used on the river, intercepted in the operation were destroyed.

Operation Final War 
The arrest followed the launch of “Operation Final War” by the Amansie West District of Ashanti region, meant to launch a final onslaught on recalcitrant illegal miners and bring them to face the law.

Speaking to journalists on the first day of the operation, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Amansie West, Mr William Bediako Asante, said the sustainability of the three-day exercise was necessary to bring down the curtain on illegal mining on the Offin river in the district and protect the river against pollution.

According to him, the assembly’s efforts to stop illegal mining activities were on course.

Eighteen illegal miners were arrested and 44 equipment seized by the team on Christmas Eve while on Christmas day, the team apprehended 9 illegal miners and 42 mining equipment. He noted that earlier this month, 17 others who were arrested and placed before court were each fined GHS 12, 000. He explained that four of them who could not pay the fine were serving a jail sentence of four and a half months.

The DCE said some people had invaded the district to engage in galamsey but warned that such people would not have their way and warned the recalcitrant persons to stop their activities and leave the operation area to avoid drastic consequences.

He commended the team spirit and resilience of the taskforce and pledged the assembly’s total support to ensure the success of the operation.

#StopGalamsey

Source: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/galamsey-14-illegal-miners-arrested.html

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