Two excavators operating on a Community mining site have been burnt down by Police at Kyebi in Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The mining site with sign post inscription “Dabo Community Mining Program” was alleged mining close to the Birim river causing serious pollution.
The miner is also reported to be causing destruction to the land with impunity.
The action by the Police follows warning by Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin to resist government’s community mining program due to the high destruction of lands and river bodies.
Okyenhene
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin says the Akyem Abuakwa traditional council will no longer tolerate the community mining policy introduced by the Akufo-Addo government.
According to the Okyenhene, the policy is illegal and causes destruction to lands and water bodies in the Akyem area.
President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, 25th July 2019, launched the Community Mining Programme at Wassa Akropong, in the Western Region.
The Community Mining Programme is aimed at formalizing mining in selected communities across the country.
With at least one community mine expected to be set up in each of the mining districts in the country, the community mines are estimated to provide employment for more than 4,500 miners that were trained by Government at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.
Launching the pilot programme at Wassa Akropong, President Akufo-Addo stated that the Community Mining Programme will ensure that “mining will be done the right way, within the tenets of the law, and will not destroy our natural resources”.
The Policy has since received lots of criticism by environmental watchers who say it is causing more harm than good.
While addressing the Eastern Regional Minister and his entourage who paid a courtesy call on the Ofori Panin palace during the weekend, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin minced no words describing Community Mining Policy as “Uncle or Senior brother of galamsey.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
