Intractable Galamsey: Okyenhene Bristles With Rage …Joins Forces With Okuapehene To Prevent Further Pollution Of River Birim

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin and Oseadeyo Kwasi Akuffo, the overlords of Akyem Abuakwa State and Akuapem Traditional Area (ATA) respectively, have reignited their commitment to eliminate illegal mining along the banks of the Birim River.

According to the two powerful chiefs, their collaboration seeks not only to restore the river and safeguard the environment, but also to strengthen ties between the two traditional areas in the fight against environmental destruction.

This came to light last Friday, when the two leading chiefs traditionally agreed at a meeting at the Ofori Panin Fie, at Kyebi, to collaborate in their efforts to fight illegal mining along the banks of the Birim River.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin reiterated that a dedicated task force composed of chiefs, opinion leaders, mining experts and relevant security agencies have been established to tackle the issue and mitigate the devastating effects of galamsey in the region.

“Illegal mining is having a devastating effect on our lands and water bodies in the Eastern Region. I have constituted a task force made up of chiefs, opinion leaders, people with proper mining knowledge and relevant security agencies to ensure that excavators and other machines used to destroy our environment are removed and never returned,” Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin stated.

He emphasised that the Abuakwa Traditional Council will only permit individuals and businesses with proper documentation from the Minerals Commission to engage in mining, provided their operations are environmentally sustainable.

Touching on the collaboration with the Akuapem Traditional Area, Barima Dr. Kwabena Awuah Parker, Chief of Sokode-Juaso and leader of the task force, noted that the initiative was a joint effort to fight illegal mining and restore water bodies in the Eastern Region.

He called on the government, corporate institutions, NGOs and especially the youth to support the task force in its mission to protect the environment for sustainable development.

In a related development, the GNA reports that the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has constituted and inaugurated a nine-member illegal mining task force with the goal of ensuring that the region’s lands, forests and water bodies are protected for future generations.

The task force’s principal goal is to monitor and deter illicit mining activities throughout the region, with a focus on areas that have been heavily damaged by illicit mining.

It must also identify galamsey sites, enforce laws, seize illegal mining equipment, safeguard water bodies and forests, raise public awareness and work with local people to battle it.

Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, the Eastern Regional Minister, who is also the Chairperson of the REGSEC saidgalamsey is a security problem that seriously endangers both human life and the ecosystem.

According to her, the negative consequences of galamsey operations are extensive and pose a threat to the future of every industry, especially the devastation of water bodies, deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss.

As part of the resetting agenda, Mrs. Awatey reaffirmed President Mahama administration commitment to combating galamsey.

She, therefore, assured the task force of adequate resources to ensure that its mission was carried out efficiently.

“With the task force team in existence, I was hopeful that any kind of illicit mining would no longer be allowed in the area and anyone found culpable in engaging in galamsey will be made to face the full rigors of the law” she said.

DCOP Twumasi Ankrah, the Eastern Regional Police Commander and task force chairperson, promised to work tirelessly to make responsible mining the norms.

Galamsey, or illegal mining, has grown to be a serious environmental issue in Ghana, particularly regarding the nation’s waterways. Because these mining operations are frequently uncontrolled, waterbodies are severely contaminated and destroyed.

These activities frequently contaminate local water sources and put aquatic life in jeopardy.

Particularly harmful is mercury, which can build up in fish and other species, rendering them unfit for human consumption and endangering the health of those who rely on these bodies of water for farming and drinking

In addition to chemical pollution, illicit mining causes physical damage to Soil whereby erosion occurs when land is excavated for gold, and debris from mine sites is washed into rivers and lakes.

Furthermore, mining activities along riverbanks weaken the ground, causing additional erosion and altering river direction and these modifications not only interrupt the normal flow of water, but they also harm the surrounding ecosystems.

To conserve Ghana’s water, forest and arable lands resources for future generations, tough law enforcement and more sustainable mining methods must be implemented.

The post Intractable Galamsey: Okyenhene Bristles With Rage …Joins Forces With Okuapehene To Prevent Further Pollution Of River Birim appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

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