The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birem Central Municipality, Solomon Brako, has revealed that illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has become a significant issue in Akyem Oda.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Prayer and Thanksgiving event held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, he highlighted that the head of the Minerals Commission in Birim Central has disclosed that miners in the area are operating without the requisite documentation.
“The reason why I am emphasising that a lot of this issue is going on is that the head of the Minerals Commission here in Birim Central has made it known that those who mine in this area do not have the required documents which permit them to engage in this activity.
“When you come to this assembly, there is no one who is mining and has come for a business permit, so the assembly has not permitted anyone to mine gold,” he asserted.
According to him, he has coordinated with journalists to inspect the illegal mining sites; however, these activities remain unregulated, posing a grave risk to future generations.
“As an MCE, I have connected with journalists to go to where these individuals are conducting illegal mining, and the sad thing is that what they are doing is not backed by law.
“If they observed the law, they would know that where there is a water body, you are supposed to move 100 metres away, and after digging a pit, you have to cover it to avoid any negative impact on future generations. But all these measures, these wrongdoers do not follow,” he said.
Mr. Brako stressed that he has reached out to the National Security for assistance in combating galamsey and has issued a stern warning that anyone found guilty will face prosecution.
“I have sent a letter to the National Security to help us eradicate this issue. I am using this opportunity to caution all of us here that if you have family, siblings, friends.
“Any particular party who are involved in this, we do not want the National Security to apprehend them before we say that the MCE caused their arrest,” he warned.
