The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has given illegal miners two weeks to leave forests and water bodies or face legal action.
He made it clear that he is committed to protecting the region’s natural resources and fully supports President John Mahama’s efforts to promote responsible mining. He warned those mining in forest reserves to leave immediately.
“Anyone in the forest reserve mining should vacate those places. We are giving them up to two weeks. If you are mining within the forest reserves and you don’t want to be on the bad side of the law, you have two weeks to leave the place,” he stated.
Dr. Amoakohene also announced plans to stop mining in water bodies and warned those polluting them to put an end to their activities.
“If you have any investment in the water bodies, polluting the water bodies, you have two weeks to leave. We will send out a team to make sure we restore normalcy within the mining sector,” he added.
Illegal mining continues to destroy forests and rivers in the Ashanti Region, despite past government efforts to stop it. To tackle this problem, the Minister said he is working with other Regional Ministers to ensure a more effective approach.
“I am working with other Regional Ministers who equally share tributaries of river bodies with us so we can be holistic with our approach to the fight,” he explained.
Illegal mining has left many abandoned pits in communities, creating serious environmental and safety problems.
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