The Nkawie District Forestry Commission Manager has called on the Chief Justice and Attorney General to consider empowering the law courts to sentence and hand out harsh punishment to persons who engage in illegal mining in the country.
Nana Bosompem is optimistic that stiff and harsh punishment meted to offenders will serve as a deterrent to residents in most mining areas.
His remarks come after nine (9) illegal miners, including a female were arrested on Wednesday, November 29 by the Rapid Response Team of the Nkawie Forestry Commission in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region.
The culprits are; Michael Gyamfi, Kwame Kwakye, Abdullai Iddrisu and Daniel Agyei.
The others are Haruna Seidu, Agyei Bernard, Kwaku Gyamfi, Afia Cynthia and Adunai.
Speaking to XYZ News’ Ashanti Regional correspondent, Jonathan Ofori, Nana Bosompem explained that the nine were arrested at the Jemira Forest Reserve upon a tip-off.
“We received an information that these illegal miners have besieged a section of our forest reserve called Jemira Forest Reserve so we immediately dispatched our team to the scene at dawn where nine of them were arrested. Several others who saw the team also bolted,” he explained.
He revealed: “We later discovered that these illegal miners have adopted another method of mining which they call dig-and-wash where they visit the forest with pumping machines, pick-axe, shovel and machetes to pollute our forests and water bodies”.
Nana Bosompem also indicated that the suspects have since been transported to the Nkawie District Police Command where they would be processed for court.
Government early this year intensified the clampdown on illegal mining in the country.
A joint military and police team known as “Operation Vanguard” have also intensified their operations to flush out illegal miners who are destroying forests and water bodies in the country.
Experts say it will cost about GHC27000 to reclaim a hectare of land destroyed by illegal mining.
Source: GhanaWeb
