Illegal mining in affecting girls' education at Gomoa Ajumako

Illegal gold mining in the Gomoa West District is seriously affecting girls’ education in the district, the Headmistress of one of the schools most affected, has said.

The Headmistress, who wants to remain anonymous, told the GNA in an interview that within two years, seven girls from her school had been impregnated by illegal miners at Gomoa Ajumako near Apam.

The girls aged between 14 and 16, she said, were influenced with money and other items.

The Headmistress said two of them had given birth while the rest, in Primary 5, JHS 1 and 2, are carrying their pregnancies to school.

She said investigations had revealed that the situation had come about as a result of lack of parental care and appealed to the district assembly, the chiefs and other opinion leaders to help find a solution to the problem.

She appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to regulate the activities of illegal miners which is fast springing up and causing environmental problems in the area.

Mr. Theophilous Adu Mensah, District Chief Executive for Gomoa West, said he could not comment on the issue unless he contacted certain officials.**