[ 2017-05-23 ]

Amewu ordered the arrest of 4 people for engaging in galamsey at Amadaa

Amewu arrest 4 for engaging in galamsey at Amadaa
Three Ghanaians and a Burkinabe who defied the
six-month moratorium on illegal mining to engage
in ‘galamsey’ in River Offin at Amadaa in the
Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti Region
have been arrested.

They were caught in the act by the Minister of
Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John-Peter Amewu,
and a team of officials from the ministry and the
Minerals Commission who were on a fact-finding
mission in galamsey-endemic areas in the region.

Three of the suspects, Abdul Karim, 21, the
Burkinabe; Kofi Braimah, 25, and Abu Yakubu, 28,
were arrested while busily mining and polluting
the river. The fourth person, who gave his name
only as Kofi, was arrested while making a phone
call to inform the illegal miners of the presence
of the minister and his entourage.

Drilling machines, a generator set and a motorbike
used by the suspects in their illegal activities
were confiscated on the orders of the minister.

Unpatriotic behaviour

Mr Amewu was in the company of his two deputies,
Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gaysi and Mr Benito Owusu Bio,
as well as the Chief Executive of the Forestry
Commission, Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, officials of
the Minerals Commission and journalists.

The minister expressed worry over the unpatriotic
behaviour of some Ghanaians who were bent on
destroying the environment, especially the water
bodies which serve as sources of drinking water
for thousands of people.

He reiterated that the ban on illegal mining was
still in force and stressed that those caught
flouting it would be dealt with according to the
law.

Mr Amewu pointed out that the government was not
anti-mining but rather it frowned on the methods
of mining which destroyed the environment and
water bodies, adding that after sanitising the
industry, locals would be assisted to mine in a
sustainable manner.

Destruction

The main road leading to the Amadaa village was
dotted with farmlands that had been destroyed
through illegal mining activities, leaving in
their wake huge trenches filled with dirty water.

Surprisingly, the mining site where the four were
arrested was about 200 metres away from the
chief’s palace but when the chief was
questioned, he denied ever seeing or hearing
anything about illegal mining in his community.

He expressed shock at the illegal mining
activities and promised that he would caution the
community against galamsey.

Mr Owusu-Afriyie, aka Sir John, appealed to the
chief to ensure that the forest, farmlands and
River Offin were protected because their
destruction would spell doom for the community.

A member of the community, who pleaded anonymity,
expressed doubt over the claim by the chief that
he was not aware of the illegal mining activities
and alleged that the community leaders had been
selling the lands to the illegal miners who had
destroyed large tracts of farmlands and cocoa
farms.

He said those farmers who refused to sell their
cocoa farms had their farms sprayed with
chemicals, destroying the trees within 48 hours.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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