A group of traditional rulers in the Ellembelle district of the Western Region led by Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council have pulled their support together to halt illegal mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’ in the district.
Nana Aka Nwoza III, the chief of Bakanta in the Ellembelle district and a member of the committee set-up to investigate the activities of illegal mining expressed concern over the illegal mining activities in upstream communities such as Ebi, Tandan, Asasetre, Bomoakpole, Nvenlesolo, Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo, and Nkroful with the district. He said this while speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He further indicated that a sub-committee has been set-up by Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli comprising chiefs of Asanda, Ambainu, and other traditional areas. According to him, they had already gathered first-hand information of the extent of damage that galamsey activities were causing fertile lands and river bodies in their jurisdiction.
To fight this problem of ‘galamsey’ activities in the district, Nana entreated all chiefs in the area to be united so that together they would stand to fight the menace. The main source of drinking water in the area, Amanzule River has been polluted due to this illegal mining.
Nana Aka Nwoza III says the committee’s second fact-finding mission on galamsey sites will be accompanied by police and drones to track and arrest individuals involved in the galamsey operations.
The Chief of Esiama in the Ellembelle District, Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III has lauded the efforts of Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli for setting up the committee to investigate galamsey activities in his area.
Nana Nwoza told GNA that the committee would do a good fact-finding job and present its report to the Traditional Council, the District Security Council and the Operation Vanguard team so they could take the necessary action to deal with the issue.
To protect lands and water bodies in the area from further deterioration, Nana Nwoza appealed to all traditional rulers to support the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council to fight the galamsey issue.