National security clamps down on illegal small scale mining activities


The National Security has started an operation in and around the Obuasi municipality of Ashanti to clamp down on illegal small scale mining activities. 

On the first day of the operation, 45 Chinese nationals undertaking small scale mining in the area were arrested and their various mining and domestic logistics and equipment impounded.  

The suspects and some of their confiscated items have since been transported to the head office of the National Security in Accra, while the operation continues until the identified mining sites have been shut down. 

Among the impounded equipment are a number of pick-ups, electrical and other household appliances. At one of the sites, the excavator on location was said to have been set ablaze. 

The leader of the operations team, Naval Captain Ankama told Radio Ghana in Kumai that so far only the foreign nationals have been arrested  pending the next decision on them by the government. However, the local people who were found around the sites were left because their direct involvement of the illegal mining activities could not be established. 

Naval Captain Ankamah said the security operation at Obuasi will not leave out the local galamsey operators in view of the harm that their activities are causing the environment. 

About a month ago, personnel of the National Security undertook a two-day survey of the alluvial mining areas of the Obuasi Municipality not only to ascertain the extent of damage being caused to the natural environment but also to identify the small scale mining sites.  

It was then established that these mining activities have rendered some important sources of drinking water for the indigenes contaminated not only for the humans, but for even aquatic life. Also, large tracks of oil palm and teak plantation as well as forest reserves have been destroyed to make way for the small scale mining activities. 

When contacted the Mining Engineer of the Minerals Commission responsible for the Obuasi area confirmed that the Commission does not issue operating license for small scale mining to foreigners and that even the local people who have been given the operating license are not within the Obuasi enclave.


GBC