Aowin Municipal Assembly fights illegal mining

The Aowin Municipal Assembly located in the Western North Region has been fighting illegal mining popularly known as "Galamsey" in the Municipality.

This was disclosed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Mr. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi at the second ordinary meeting of the Assembly.

The MCE’s sessional address highlighted activities of the Assembly such as finance, security, illegal mining, distribution of items to persons with disability, qualification in District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT), water and sanitation, roads, government scholarship scheme, planting for food and jobs program, fertilizer distribution, certified seeds received and distributed, planting for export and rural development, rearing for food and jobs program, inputs received under cocoa health and extension division, pre-mix fuel and motorized machines ,revenue mobilization and many developmental projects.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said one area of security concern in the Municipality was illegal mining phenomenon.

The illegal miners from neighbouring districts have found the Aowin Municipality very attractive for their illegal activities.

During the period of the ban on small scale mining and after, they have been several incursions by the miners into the Aowin Municipality despite fierce resistance from the Municipal Security Council and the Municipal Committee against Illegal Mining.

The MCE said some communities in the Municipality such as Yiwabra, Papoeso, Disueano, Boinso and Omanpe were all besieged by illegal miners with the attendant social vices.

"All water bodies in these communities are being polluted with impunity by the miners" he said.

Mr. Adu-Gyamfi said the Municipal Security Council was challenged in the fight against the phenomenon in terms of manpower and logistics.

He said in order to effectively fight the miners especially those operating inside the water bodies, the Municipal Security Council needed to continuously patrol and guard the affected areas with security men who can swim.