The Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben in the Ashanti Region, Mrs Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu, has stormed galamsey sites to halt operations in the Municipality.
One candidate who, at an examination centre in Juaben, abandoned his exam paper to engage in illegal mining, highlighting the allure and desperation surrounding galamsey. This incident has, however, prompted the MCE to visit the galamsey sites to reaffirm the report and find lasting remedies to halt their operations in the area.
According to her, illegal mining has become a major threat in the municipality, and it is therefore her duty to ensure sustainable development and the well-being of all residents and also water bodies are being polluted, forest reserves degraded as well as farmlands destroyed and if this continues, it will be risky for turning Juaben into an ecological disaster… she stressed.
The MCE continued that several reports have indicated dangerous mining pits left uncovered, posing risks to farmers to farmers, children and even miners themselves and the health hazards from polluted water and air cannot be ignored While some children abandoning school to engage in illegal mining and this trend endangers our investments in education and robs our youth of a better future.
She emphasised that a task force has been formed in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, Environmental Protection Agency and traditional authorities to enforce the ban. Also, community sensitization campaigns will be intensified, especially in the mining-prone areas and schools will be supported to report cases of student absenteeism linked to mining.
Juaben MCE concluded that the Assembly cannot win this fight without the support of Chiefs, elders, parents and civil society and therefore urged all residents to be united and report illegal mining activities to authorities to end this menace to protect Juaben Municipality for current and future generations.
She was accompanied by the Security Personnel, Municipal Coordinating Director, Assembly Members, Media and some Assembly staff.
By Information Desk, Juaben Municipal Assembly