The Tufuhene of Assuawuah of the Gwira Traditional Area in the Western Region, Nana Addae Blay V has challenged recent claims by government that the Ankobra River is cleaning up.
According to him the claims are contrary to what is being witnessed in their traditional area where the rivers are as muddy and unclean as they were at the height of the galamsey menace.
The Tufuhene of Assuawuah of the Gwira Traditional Area, Nana Addae Blay V said the river remained muddy and unclear because of the worsening spate of illegal, irresponsible mining in the area.
“I am stating categorically that the high rate at which the illegal small scale mining activities are going in the various communities such as Sefwi Asawinso, Diaso, Wassa Jokwaa, Wassa Akropong, Hiawa Bekwai, Prestea, Pepoase, Gwira Wiaso Gwira Tumantu, Gwira Banso and Assuawuah is worrying,” the concerned traditional ruler said.
Nana Addae Blay V was speaking at a press conference in the Western Region.
The Tufuhene of Assuawuah accused some chiefs in the area of facilitating illegal mining in their areas.
He said his investigations had uncovered documentary evidence that confirmed his suspicions that “some chiefs and other traditional office holders in Gwira in the Western Region secretly endorsing the illegal small scale mining miners in their traditional areas.”
“Some traditional office holders in Gwira have been selling diesel fuels for the galamseyers in various mining prone communities, particularly in Gwira Banso community within the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality to power their chanfas and other mining machines to prospect gold on the water bodies in the area,” he added.
Nana Addae Blay V was so alarmed at the situation he expressed the fear that the illegal miners might soon dig up the palace of the Gwira Banso chief.
He said in the coming days some traditional office holders in the area will be publicly named and shamed for facilitating illegal small scale mining activities which had polluted River Akonbra, fertile farm lands and forest range reserves.
Nana Addae Blay V was reacting to claims by Deputy Lands and Mineral Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker that some progress had been made in the turbidity level of the water bodies.
George Mireku Duker said the fact that the river is clearer is an indication of the fact that the anti-galamsey fight was yielding results.
He applauded various agencies and Ghanaians for their contribution to the efforts towards the fight against galamsey and indicated that government will intensify the fight against the canker.
Story: Sena Nombo/Radiogoldlive.com
