By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, Nov 26, GNA – The Central Regional Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has denied recent social media rumours alleging the involvement and arrest of Mr James Prah, Twifo Atti-Morkwa District Director for extortion at an illegal mining site at Twifo-Abuboi.
Consequently, NADMO has urged the public to dismiss those accusations, describing them as baseless and unfortunate attempts to undermine the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and preventing disasters in the area.
Mr Kwesi Dawood, Regional Director, at a press briefing, said NADMO remained resolute in its zero-tolerance policy and would never condone or protect any official found to be involved in illegal mining or related corrupt practices.
“To protect the environment is to protect our future; any act that jeopardises this mission will be met with unyielding resistance,” Mr Dawood stated, underscoring NADMO’s dedication to environmental integrity and transparency.
Providing context to the cautionary stance, Mr Dawood explained that on Saturday, November 15, a group of thugs forcibly entered an illegal mining site at Twifo-Abuboi, seeking to extort money from the miners.
However, he said a violent confrontation ensued that resulted in the arrest of some thugs by vigilant community members and handed them over to the police.
Police investigations later confirmed that the suspects were local hoodlums with no affiliation to NADMO and had since been remanded in police custody pending more in-depth investigations.
Mr Dawood further clarified that NADMO’s core mandate revolved around disaster risk reduction, environmental protection and ensuring community resilience against hazards such as floods, erosion and land degradation, often exacerbated by illegal mining activities like sand winning.
To combat these threats, he said NADMO would continue to collaborate with local authorities to implement preventive measures, including public education campaigns, monitoring illegal mining hotpots and mobilised rapid response teams to areas at risk.
Mr Dawood issued a stern warning that NADMO would continue to join forces with all mandated state institutions to educate the public, apprehend offenders and prosecute those involved in environmentally destructive and socially disruptive activities.
Such enforcement actions were intended to serve as a strong deterrent to potential offenders, he said, adding that “Seeking justice for environmental crime is justice for the community; together, we must stand resolute to protect the land that sustains us all.”
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Lydia Kukua Asamoah