The Lands Minister has destroyed bags of sachet of water belonging to some illegal miners at Tumentu in the Western Region.
The minister and a media entourage found a metal cage where bags of sachet water was stored while the miners destroyed water sources of the local community.
John Peter Amewu was disappointed when he saw the extent of damage caused water bodies in the community as part of his tour at some mining sites in the region Sunday.
The illegal miners reportedly fled when they saw the Minister and taskforce.
Ghana’s water bodies and lands have been severely ruined because of the unregulated mining activities. The ‘galamseyers’ use toxic substance in their mining.
A popular mining technique used by these illegal miners is known as ‘Champfine.’ This is a type of mining done on river beds and it involves the use of the water to purify dug sand to obtain the gold.
The technique is believed to be responsible for the muddied nature of the country’s rivers especially Ankobrah in the Western Region and Brim River in the Eastern Region.
The Ghana Water Company has said the country will import water from its neighbours if the current destruction is not stopped.
It has shut down some of its water treatment plants in some communities because water bodies there are filled with sand and grit.
Not ready to entertain tardiness in the handling of the galamsey issue, Mr Amewu has dismissed nine mine inspectors for negligence.
He said he will declare their positions vacant to be filled later with unemployed graduates.
Last Thursday, one mine inspector in the Eastern Region identified as Yaw was summoned to Accra after he was found drunk while on duty.
The Lands Minister has assured government’s newly drafted document, Multilateral Integrated Mining Project, will eliminate the menace.
Some of the illegal mining sites Mr Amewu visited included, Daboase and Prestea all in the Region.
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