SOCIAL

Shama district assembly takes steps to halt illegal clay mining
The Technical Committee of the Shama District Assembly has taken a firm decision to ban the activities of illegal clay mining in the District.

Date Created : 2/19/2021 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Irene kwakye/Ghanadistricts.com

A task force has been set up by the assembly to combat the operations of illegal clay miners.

The District Chief Executive Joseph Amoah, in an interview said the Head of the Technical Committee of the assembly explained that illegal clay mining has destroyed the once arable land of the area, reducing it somewhat to an infertile ground.

He further said, the Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, in his recent visit to the district, expressed concern about the deplorable nature of the arable lands in the area and said its mainly due to the activities of illegal clay mining.

He mentioned that people had either glossed over it or not given the attention to activities of illegal clay mining because they believed it was only illegal gold mining that could devastate the land.

Dr Kokofu, however, stressed that clay mining was equally inimical to the lives and property of residents around areas the illegal mining activities orders.

The Assembly member for Supormu Dunkwa-Beposo electoral area, Mr Isaac Adane Boakye whose community was deeply affected welcomed the timely decision of the authorities concerned to place an indefinite ban on the illegal clay mining.

Mr Boakye pledged his support and assured that every measure would be considered, including; the formation of watchdog committees to check the illegal activity.

The assembly therefore charged those engaging in clay mining to acquire the necessary licenses and permit to do so.