Anwiafutu (Ash), Feb. 24, GNA – Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has issued a stern warning to those he described as “thugs in forest reserves and water bodies” to cease their illegal mining activities immediately.
“We are coming for you, you have a choice, you leave now, or we arrest you and your co-conspirators.
“All those that have been arrested, we are tracking down to the financiers and those who rent equipment, they are all going to face the full rigours of the law.
“This fight is not going to stop tomorrow, we are to fight hard, and I believe with the support of Ghanaians, reclaiming our forest one at a time, reclaiming our water bodies once at a time will be successful “he declared.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah was addressing the media at Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve at Anwiafutu, near Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District.
He was accompanied by Ashanti Regional Security Council, led by the Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, and officials from the Forestry Commission.
The visit was to afford the Lands and Natural Resources Minister the opportunity to inspect one of the heavily illegally mined sites at the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve, where more than 30 hectares of land has been destroyed.
Two Chinese nationals were arrested during the visit.
He said the President had ordered that the officials “move from one forest to the other, one water body to the other, until all those bad guys are captured and their equipment seized.”
The Minister said it was important they restored biodiversity, “bring back life and make sure our water bodies have turned blue again.”
He announced that 15 excavators have been seized and other gadgets that could not be moved damaged.
In the past week, another group was driven out of the Ankobra River, arrested seven Chinese and eight Ghanaian accomplices.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the instructions from President John Mahama was that officials followed through till justice was done for the people of Ghana.
The Minister commended Dr Amoakohene for coordinating the efforts, the regional police command and the team, describing the operation as a high risk one due to the armed nature of these thugs.
On mining and prospecting, he noted pathways were being created for anybody who wanted to undertake legal mining.
“We are simplifying the process and decentralising the process to make sure community leaders working with regulatory authorities are part of the licensing regime.
“We are overhauling the licensing regime to make sure the right thing is done,” he assured.
GNA