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A group of journalists who stormed Asawinso and visited an illegal mining site where the Ankobra River from the western region passes witnessed the devastating nature at which the Ankobra River has been polluted as a results of the illegal mining (Galamsey) activities.
Information gathered from the Asawinso community through some residents disclosed to the journalists group revealed that the Galamseyers who have been operating illegally for some time claimed they have the full support of the Municipal Chief Executive for the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai in the person of Hon. Paul Andoh who has used his authority to allow these illegal miners to operate with impunity and without fear.
This development according to some residents whom the journalists spoke with and depends on farming activities for their livelihood has compelled them to buy sachet water to their farms as their sources of drinking water since they can no longer drink the Ankobra river which they used to some years ago.
When journalists got in touched with the elected assembly member for the Asawinso electoral area of the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly, Hon Frank Ackah Nelson , he hinted that its true some miners are operating at Asawinso closed to the Ankobra river which he is spearheading the activities but he has received a phone call from a security official from the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai municipal assembly who told him that the Queen mother of Sefwi Bungaso where the illegal mining is taking place to stop operating and resolve every impasse with the Bungaso Queen mother because she is not happy with the activities of the Galamsey in the area .
The assembly member further disclosed that he will use all means to settle the Bungaso Queen mother with money to shut her mouth to enable the Galamseyers operate without any hindrances because there is enough gold in the area.
Sefwi Asawinso community in the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai municipality of the western north region is under the jurisdiction of His Royal Highness, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll , the Paramount chief of the Sefwi Anwianso Traditional Area, the president of the Western North Regional House of Chiefs and the President of National House of Chiefs.
It is on record that Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll , has cautioned all his Divisional Chiefs as well as all his sub chiefs within his traditional area to desist from engaging or involving themselves into Galamsey activities and has threatened to destool any chief found culpable of illegal mining involvement.
In October 5th 2022 , at a National House of Chiefs meeting in Kumasi , the President of the National house of chiefs , Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll , was emphatic and made it clear to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo , the minister for Lands and Natural Resources ministry , the Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor, his deputy in charge of mining, , the Hon George Mireku Duker, and the deputy in charge of Forestry, the Hon Benito Owusu Bio including all regional ministers whose jurisdictions mining activities takes place that , the leadership of the national house of chiefs and all its members has committed to support the government to fight illegal mining ( Galamsey ) activities in the country.
The government through the Lands and Natural Resources ministry has therefore mandated chiefs to examine documentations related to mining in their respective jurisdictions before allowing them to operate but per information available to journalists the illegal miners has since been ignoring the traditional authorities and rather being given power by most of the politicians to operate without fear which chiefs are not aware of.
