Galamsey ongoing in Abirem despite ban – Chief

Some illegal small-scale miners (galamsyers) are still engaged in their illicit mining trade despite the ban placed on all small-scale mining activities in the country, Nana Dr Boakye Danquah, Chief of Pankese, Abirem in the Eastern Region, has said.

According to him, in an attempt to conceal their activities from the public, these miners ply their trade at night.

He has therefore urged the Operation Vanguard Taskforce formed to fight against the illicit small-scale mining activities to up their game.

As part of efforts to deal with the effects of galamsey on the environment and water bodies across the country, the Akufo-Addo-led government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources placed a ban on all small-scale mining activities.

This was to enable the government deal with the illegal ones among them and to also properly streamline the activities of the licensed miners.

However, speaking on Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM hosted by Chief Jerry Forson on Friday, 27 July 2018, Nana Dr Danquah said: “I can tell you on authority that the galamsey business is still going on in Abirem and they are even destroying the rivers more than ever.”

“The galamseyers normally engage in the business at night and so I want the Operation Vanguard to take note of that and deal with them,” he added.