Okyenhene calls for halt in illegal mining
activities
Accra, July 27, GNA - Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin,
Okyenhene, on Monday called for a halt in illegal mining
activities in Akyem Abuakwa, particularly within the
environs of Kyebi, Asikam, Akanten, Kobriso and Pano.
A statement signed by Nana Yentumi Boaman, Abodeesahene,
said the activities of the illegal miners had led to the
destruction of forest reserves and pollution of the Birim
River, the source of water for the area.
According to the statement, at the last State Council
meeting of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council held at
Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi, the Okyenhene charged the chiefs
in the affected areas to be extra vigilant against all
individuals and parties engaged in environmentally degrading
activities, especially illegal mining.
The Okyenhene cautioned chiefs not to allocate land to
potential miners since the Minerals Commission was the only
institution mandated to issue mining concessions or license.
“Any persons or parties, be they chiefs, citizens of the
land or migrants from other parts of the country or abroad,
found to be involved in illegal mining or any other
environmentally degrading activities within Akyem Abuakwa
will be made to face the full rigours of the law.”
It said a formal letter had been sent to stockholders in
environmental and natural conservations inviting them to
help fight the scourge.
“In a letter from the office of the Okyenhene, addressed to
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forestry
Commission (FC), the Minerals Commission (MC), the Ghana
Chamber of Mines (GCM), the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the
Minister for Lands, Forestry and Natural Resource (MLFNR),
and the Eastern Regional Minister, Osagyefuo has called for
each of these institutions to join him in fighting this
scourge before it gets out of control,” the statement said,
adding that copies of the letter were also sent to the Ghana
Wildlife Society, Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies and the
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
The Okyenhene said “if necessary measures are not taken by
the institutions responsible or mandated to do so, the
Traditional Council will be compelled to take the situation
into their own hands to curb the menace”.
He added that any individual or group who secures permit to
mine should contact the administrative secretary of the
Okyenhene for endorsement.
GNA
