The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has issued a strong warning to illegal miners, stating that the newly formed Regional Anti-Galamsey Taskforce will soon strike.
She insists that no one should call to plead on behalf of any arrested miner or confiscated equipment.
This follows the tragic deaths of three children who drowned in illegal mining pits within a week in Denkyembuor and Fanteakwa South district.
The Minister issued the fresh warning at Akyem Abompe in Fanteakwa South Wednesday where two siblings drowned in galamsey pit around homes.
She was visibly outraged by the devastation caused by illegal mining in the community.
“It is painful that we have leaders in this community. Don’t we have security personnel here? Even if the miners work at night, don’t we hear the noise of the excavator machines? I have been to Akwatia and other places; now I am in Abompe, and I am frightened. From tomorrow, we are meeting the miners from the large scale miners to the small scale miners. Most of you have heard we have formed a task force we are coming to strike soon. Nobody should call me or anyone around me to plead because I will not listen.”
The Minister has ordered an immediate investigation into the drowning incidents to bring peptrators to book.
She later visited the bereaved families to offer her condolences and assured them that justice will be served.
A token was presented to the bereaved family.
For now residents are counting down for the much promised major crackdown on illegal mining, with the Regional Anti-Galamsey Taskforce set to begin operations soon.
