ENVIRONMENT

E Akim: 3 Chinese "galamseyers" nabbed
A combined task-force of Police and officials of the East Akim Municipal assembly’s subcommittee on environmental, mining and agriculture have arrested three Chinese illegal miners in the municipality.

Date Created : 6/1/2017 4:16:29 AM : Story Author : Frimpong Emmanuel Mensah/ Ghanadistricts.com

The three, Leo, Xing, Xun together with their Ghanaian interpreter Douglas Abu, were arrested at a mining concession in the Municipality when the taskforce were touring some forest reserves at Asiakwa and Segyimase communities to ascertain the extent of damage done through illegal mining activities also known as "galamsey".

Reports claim other Ghanaians who were busily assisting the Chinese miners bolted into the forest upon seeing the taskforce arrive at the site.

Confirming the incident in an interview with Ghanadistricts.com, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the committee and also a government appointee for the assembly, Mr. Okyere Julius noted that the four are currently in police custody and will soon be arraigned before court.

The PRO who bemoaned the extent of damage done to various farm lands in nearby communities also added that water bodies which initially served as sources of drinking water of its residents were also not spared.

According to him, the municipality risk losing more of its fertile lands and lives to galamsey activities if drastic measures were not enforced to halt their operations. 

Background

Ghana is on a mission to end illegal mining after experts at the Ghana Water Company (GWC) warned that the country risks importing water from neighboring countries for consumption unless illegal mining activities stop.  So far, several local and foreign nationals mostly Chinese have been arrested to face trial at various courts division of the country.