By P. K. Yankey
Nkroful (W/R), Feb. 06 GNA – Blue Water Guards and officials of the Minerals Commission in the Ellembelle District have raided a galamsey site in the backyard of the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School (SHS).
The operation, jointly led by Mr Stephen Afena, the Co-ordinator for the Ellembelle Blue Water Guards, and Madam Anita Ama Atiasah, the Ellembelle District Director of the Commission, stormed the site and set the galamsey equipment ablaze on fire.
However, the illegal miners fled the scene upon realising the presence of the joint anti-galamsey task force.
The backyard of the Nkroful Agric SHS, where the River Subri meanders its way from Anwia and Teleku-Bokazo through to the frontage of Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s residence at Nkroful, had been ravaged by illegal miners.
The situation worsened when galamsey activities went on day and night closer to the Boys’ Dormitory, disturbing the academic work and sleep of students.
Speaking to Ghana News Agency after the operation, Mr Afena said the operation was successful as the taskforce was able to destroy seven Chanfang machines, and 12 water pumping machines which were in operation at the time of the raid.
He said the next line of action was to ensure that they traced the illegal miners to reclaim the degraded lands as part of the restoration of the ecology.
The Ellembelle Blue Water Guards Co-ordinator said the joint operations would be intensified in the coming days with keen surveillance and monitoring to ensure that illegal miners did not return to their destroyed camps and sites again.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/ Christabel Addo