The Commander In-Chief of Ghana Armed Forces, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed for the release of 200 soldiers to fight illegal miners mining in water bodies.
A statement from the Information Ministry stated that the move is to ensure that mining within water bodies are immediately stopped effective today Wednesday April 28, 2021.
The intervention is part of recommendations during a Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on April 14.
The statement added that the operation commences on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021, on the River Pra in the Central and Western regions of Ghana.
The Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed forces will provide blueprint to sustain this operation.
The Ghana Water Company Limited has expressed concern over deteriorating raw water quality due to activities of illegal miners in the major rivers in Ghana, that is the Birim, Densu, Ayensu, Pra and Ankobra.
During a visit to the Presidency by Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin called on President Akufo Addo to stop illegal miners destroying lands and water bodies.
In 2017, government constituted Operation Vanguard made up of Police and military to fight illegal mining but the fight was not successful even though some arrest and prosecutions were done.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com,/Obed Ansah
