By Godfred A. Polkuu
Tilli (U/E), March 04, GNA – Mr Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), has led a joint military and police personnel to conduct a swoop on ‘galamseyers’ in the Tilli Forest reserve.
A total of 73 of these illegal miners including foreigners were arrested during the exercise at the Tilli forest, which has the Red Volta River running located between Sakoti, a community in the Nabdam District and the Tilli community in the Bawku West District.
Out of the number arrested, 41 of them were Ghanaians comprising 40 males and a female, two Burkinabes, and 27 Togolese made up of 23 males and four females with their three infants.
On arrival in the forest, it was observed that the illegal miners were busily mining with heavy equipment in the river and on its banks.
Briefing the media after the swoop, the Minister said the action followed concerns by the Paramount Chief of the Sakoti Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, about illegal mining activities, known as ‘galamsey’ in the forest reserve.
Mr Atanga said during his visit to the Chief’s Palace to introduce himself as the new Minister for the Region, the Chief drew his attention to illegal mining and other criminal activities in the forest reserve and called for action to remedy the situation.
“Based on that, we had a REGSEC meeting and we thought that it was important for us to follow up and ascertain for ourselves the concerns of the Chief.
“We came and saw some people actively mining in the river itself, and on the riverbanks,” the REGSEC Chairman said.
He said the arrested suspects would be taken to the Nangodi Police Station for questioning to ascertain if there were unseen faces behind their illegal pursuit or if they undertook the activities on their own volition.
“So, we will dig deep into the issue. Even though these people were arrested, they may not be the actual people behind the activities. We will screen them and subsequently take action to address the issue,” he said.
Mr Atanga observed that the colour of the White Volta along the Pwalugu-Wulugu road had changed and attributed this to the possible activities of the illegal miners in the Tilli Forest reserve.
The REGSEC Chairman said similar actions would be taken in other forest reserves across the Region to clean them of illegal mining activities.
He commended the chief for prompting REGSEC about the illegal mining activities and called on other traditional rulers and stakeholders to identify activities that posed threats to the citizenry and report some for the necessary action.
GNA