A taskforce against illegal mining, operating at Wenchi in the Bono Region, has arrested six persons who were reportedly mining in the River Tain.
The taskforce was set up by the Paramount Chief of the Wenchi Traditional Area, Osagyefo Ampem Anye Amoampong Tabrako III, to flush out people engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, upstream River Tain, where the €30 million Wenchi Water project is earmarked.
Osagyefo Tabrako told journalist at Wenchi that the miners were busily perpetuating the illegality in the river when the taskforce embarked on the clampdown.
According to him, three of the illegal miners were arrested in December last year, whilst the other three were also arrested last month.
The paramount chief noted that the six alleged illegal miners, after their arrest, have been handed over to the Wenchi police for investigation and prosecution.
Osagyefo Tabrako stated that during the first operation, the taskforce seized some mining equipment and a motorcycle.
He said “you know Wenchi, our water system is poor, and that is why the Government of Ghana has secured the €30 million credit facility from Belgium to construct the Wenchi Water Project, sourced from River Tain.”
Osagyefo Tarako cautioned that the “Wenchi Traditional Council will not tolerate any illegal mining, whether in river Tain or any other location on our land.”
He said the Council’s anti-illegal mining taskforce was well equipped to root out illegal mining and its related activities from the area. –myjoyonline.com