Uniquenewsgh.com News, Politics, African News Updates & More
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners has arrested five illegal miners operating in the Fanteakwa District Eastern Region and Atwima mponua District in Ashanti region.
The five illegal mining operators have been handed over to the police.
The illegal miners who were arrested in a swoop at 3 separate sites at Osino, Ankasse in Fankeakwa district of the Eastern Region and Ntobroso in Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region had destroyed several acres of cocoa and palm plantations belonging to innocent farmers.
When the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners taskforce zoomed in on them at a site, the illegal miners had diverted the flow of the Birim River and were mining in it.
Some of the illegal miners managed to swim across the Birim river to the other side to escape being arrested.
Others who were arrested were initially kept at the Osino police station before being transported to the Divisional Police command Fanteakwa where they will be processed for court.
Two pump action guns were retrieved from the illegal miners.
Their machines for operations were burnt down by the taskforce.
Their activities have destroyed many cocoa farms in the area as well as forest reserves and water bodies.
The commanding officer in charge of the taskforce, Major Patrick Don-Chebe who spoke to uniquenewsgh about exercise expressed frustration with the interference of some politicians and opinion leaders.
He said they will continue with the exercise to help protect our water bodies.
By uniquenewsgh.com
