800 chanfangs destroyed, 8 persons arrested in fresh war against illegal mining
The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry has destroyed about 800 chagfangs deployed for for illegal mining on the Pra and Offin rivers in a new war against the practice.
An Operation Halt 2 three-day exercises aided by some Military personnel yielded such results.
Reiterating the government’s efforts at tackling the illegal mining menace, leader of the team, George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister indicated that government is on course to win this war against illegal mining.
The minister said the team commenced its patrol on Friday on the Offin and Ankobra rivers in a bid to deal with the illegal miners.
He lamented the extent at which people in their quest for money take issues about river bodies for granted, not minding the future implications.
What triggered this operation according to the Minister was the video that went viral on social media capturing some illegal miners on a particular river hence the need to put them to order. He commended the military for their cooperation towards a successful operation.
He appealed for support from the citizenry and those in authority to spearhead this course.
Mr Mireku Duker stated that government cannot deal with the menace alone hence the cooperation of the citizenry and traditional authorities within these areas and also constant checks within the area will cause such miners to flee.
After the operation, it was revealed that 8 illegal miners were nabbed and awaiting prosecution while the minister also assured of permanent security measures to keep such miners off the river bodies.
