Illegal miners destroying Black Volta

The uncontrolled use of toxic mercury and explosives by illegal miners is causing an irreparable damage to the Black Volta and its surrounding environment.

Such illegal miners also exploit the services of young children, who should have been in school, for their financial gains, Mr Vitus Ngaanuma, Community Relations Manager of Azumah Resources Ghana Limited, an Australian Company exploring for Gold in the Upper West Region told the Ghana News Agency at Nadowli.

He said the illegal miners bring in guns and illicit drugs and create social unrest in the communities in which they operate.

Mr Ngaanuma said recently three illegal miners from Chari Communities in the Nadowli-Kaleo District who were illegally exploring for gold at Azumah’s concession died when an underground pit collapsed on them.

He said the deaths of the miners should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities to act quickly and decisively to stamp out the escalating illegal mining activities at the company’s concession.

The Community Relations Manager said the time has come for effective action to stop more deaths among the youth and the frequent environmental destruction in the communities.

Mr Ngaanuma urged the Environmental Protection Agency to confiscate the equipment and machinery use by the illegal miners.