The Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly, Hon. GYASI DOMINIC together with Blue Water Guards have apprehended five illegal miners, set two chamfangs ablaze and destroyed other equipments at galamsey site at Bedii.
Speaking to Kaakyire on Okyeame Radio Adekyee mu Nsem political show, he narrated how the culprits were arrested.
“I acted on credible intelligence that some individuals were actively engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) at Bedii within our municipality”. “I deployed Water Guards to investigate and on their surveillance, they caught the miners in the act and quickly alerted me”.
Together with my entourage, we moved to the site. Although some managed to escape, we were able to arrest five nation wreckers, who are now in police custody and their tools and equipments were seized, and those that could not be transported were destroyed or burnt to prevent further use, he indicated.
During the operation according to the MCE, it was revealed that these illegal miners allegedly pay money to some security officers, including soldiers and police, in exchange for protection. He said this is deeply troubling, while assuring his people that such compromises will not be tolerated emphasizing that anyone found aiding or shielding galamsey operators will be exposed and dealt with.
He established that galamsey is not prevalent in the Sefwi Wiawso municipality, that notwithstanding, the few ones should be eliminated.
We are not backing down instead we are calling on everybody to come on board, alert us on any suspicion of illegal mining, he stressed.
The MCE refuted claims that galamsey is on the rise due to high unemployment rate since there are people with skills but have abandoned their profession for galamsey.
Story by: AKUAPEM-HANN KWAME OMONO ASAMOAH
