Dormaa Central MCE, security taskforce storm galamsey sites in Dormaa

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Dormaa Central in the Bono Region, Mr. Drissah Ouattara, has given the assurance that the Assembly would deal drastically with anyone who engages in illegal mining (galamsey) activity in the area.

He gave the assurance when he led members of the Municipal Security Committee in a swoop on galamsey sites in the Municipality.

The team visited Kosane, Kwakubedikrom and Kuren illegal sand winning sites, where they seized items, including water pumps, generators and motorbikes.

A Special Aide of the MCE, Nana Damoah, said the operation was undertaken following a tip off about the continued galamsey activities in the area, despite efforts by the Assembly to eliminate the canker.

Interestingly, moments after the operation, the illegal miners returned to site.

This, according to municipal authorities, was a clear indication that until proper deliberations are held, the canker cannot be dealt with.

According to Nana Damoah, the Assembly and traditional authorities in the catchment area are considering a series of engagements to find a lasting solution to the illegal activity.

He, however, added that the engagement would reconsider community mining, as they believe that if the miners undergo proper training for mining it would help solve the damage caused to the environment and rivers.

Meanwhile, the National Consultative Dialogue on small scale mining has called on the government to take steps to put in place systems for the rigid application of the laws against illegal small-scale mining.

A 15-point communique read on Thursday, April 15, by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, at the end of the two-day meeting, stressed that sanctions and penalties imposed by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995) should be applied to all those who infringed the law, irrespective of political colour, socio-economic status or class.

The communiqué described illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as a national emergency that requires urgent and concerted effort to fight.

It, therefore, called on all political parties, stakeholder groups and individuals to join “the development and execution of this national, not parochial, agenda to rid ourselves off the long-standing issue of illegal small-scale mining and the need to implement measures to eradicate it from our society.”

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