The fight against illegal mining is in limbo in Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region, following the ongoing destruction of water bodies in the area.
The district has been described as an ‘illegal mining district’.
Galamsey activities in Jacobu, Aboabo, Ataasi, Akutuase, Fiankoma, Esereso and other communities have destroyed the lands and water bodies in the in the district.
Residents in the Amansie Central District risk losing access to potable water due to the effects of illegal mining activities also known as ‘galamsey’ in the area.
Pure FM’s Osei Kwadwo who visited the community reports that illegal miners are still operating despite the war waged against it by President Akufo-Addo’s administration.
Residents in Fiankoma, a farming community in the district disclosed that galamsey activities have destroyed cocoa farms while forest reserves have been encroached.
According to the residents, farming activities in the district have greatly been affected due to lands that have been destroyed by illegal miners, adding that they are in full support of a ban on galamsey.
The Presiding Member for Amansie Central District Assembly, Isaac Osei Dauh, expressed worry about ongoing galamsey activities in the district.
According to him “due to the fight against galamsey, the assembly in collaboration with government launched Community Mining Operation to tackle galamsey menace but still illegal miners are still operating in the district.”
“I will not say the fight against galamsey has been lost because measures have been put in place by the assembly, security agencies and government to deal with the illegal miners.
“Due to the fight, state of water bodies in the district have been improved as compared to the previous years,” he explained.
