Some landlords at Osino Zongo in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region have reportedly sold their houses and compounds to illegal miners for galamsey activities, sparking fear and outrage among residents.
One landlord allegedly sold his four-bedroom house for GH₵800,000 to an illegal miner — a move that has left neighbouring households worried their buildings could soon collapse due to underground mining operations.
Several houses in the area have already been damaged or demolished, signaling preparations for active mining. Residents say the illegal miners mostly operate under the cover of darkness to evade detection.
On Tuesday, October 7, a middle-aged landlord and three accomplices were arrested by a team led by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Fanteakwa South, Mercy Korang, after being caught engaging in illegal mining within a residential compound at Akyem Osino Zongo.
Acting on a tip-off, the DCE led a joint team of National Security operatives to the site, where the suspects were found actively mining underground using washing equipment and other tools.
They were subsequently handed over to the Osino Police for further investigation.
According to preliminary findings, the suspects had deceived residents by claiming they were digging a well, but it was later discovered that the pit had been expanded into a deep underground mine in search of gold.
DCE Mercy Korang expressed shock and dismay at the incident, describing it as a “disturbing trend that must be stopped immediately.”
She vowed to intensify the district’s fight against illegal mining, warning that property owners and residents complicit in galamsey operations would face severe legal consequences.
Meanwhile, Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey has given all Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the region a two-week ultimatum to profile miners and their financiers operating within their jurisdictions.
The directive aims to pave the way for a major crackdown on those polluting water bodies and destroying forest reserves.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
