ILLEGAL MINING IS FORESTRY COMMISSION’s BANE – Forestry manager

The Dunkwa District forestry manager, Mr. Maxwell Agyekum Oteng has
identified illegal mining activities in the forest as a major
challenge facing his outfit.
He mentioned the major illegal mining areas as Ankonsie, Adamanso,
Adonnoi, Abesewa Gyaman, Nsuopun and Abreshia where illegal mining is
seriously going on.
According to him forestry guards on April 23, 2021 chased some illegal
miners and seized four pumping machines and water hoses.
Mr. Oteng has, however, assured that his outfit will collaborate with
the military in a bid to completely flush the illegal miners out.
He appealed to the chiefs in the locality to report any illegal mining
activities in the areas to the Forestry department for the necessary
action.
The Forestry manager also urged the police quickly act on illegal
mining matters to get desired results.
Dr. John Benjamin Annan, Medical Director of the Dunkwa Government
Hospital advised those engaged in galamsey activities in various
communities to stop destroying the waters bodies because they create
problem for both health workers and the Ghana Water company.
According to him, the number of cancer cases is on the increase
because of the chemicals used to for processing.

The chief of Dunkwa -on- Offin , Okofrobour Obeng Nuakoh III
suggested that before one goes to site to do prospecting for
gold the miner must be made to deposit some amount of money with
the Municipal or district Assembly as a guarantee to reclaim the
lands.
He also appealed to chiefs to ask the galamseyers to dredge
rivers hey operate in periodically to allow for free flow of water
to avoid flooding occasionally.
According to the chief, this gesture would ease the burden on the
government to raise funds to desilt river and water bodies.
The chief advised the miners to always think Ghana first as they went
about their activities.

By Yaw Boateng-Dunkwa-on-offin