The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Prestea Huni-Valley in the Western Region, Matthew Ayeh, on Wednesday led a swift operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities allegedly involving some Chinese nationals and their Ghanaian counterparts along the Appiatse stretch of the municipality.
In an interview after the exercise, Mr. Ayeh revealed that his office has established dedicated anti-galamsey hotlines to allow residents to quickly report any illegal mining activity posing a threat to the environment and nearby water bodies.
He recounted that while attending to official duties earlier in the day, he received videos showing foreign nationals and locals engaging in mining activities in the area.
“This afternoon, while I was in the office, someone sent me videos of some Chinese and Ghanaians destroying lands along the Apiate stretch. Immediately, I put everything on hold and contacted the District Police Commander,” he said.
Within half an hour, the District Police Commander and his team arrived at the scene to support the enforcement effort. Although the suspects managed to escape before the security team arrived, several machines — including excavators — were impounded.
“The Chinese had escaped, but their machines, including excavators, were found. We removed the control board of the excavator and are arranging for a low-bed truck to convey it away. We also set fire to the makeshift structures they occupied,” Mr. Ayeh added.
He described the operation as a success and praised the collaboration between the Assembly and the security agencies, especially the District Police Command.
The MCE reaffirmed his commitment to intensifying the fight against illegal mining and encouraged residents to make use of the hotlines to help safeguard local lands and water resources from destruction.
Source: Adomonline
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