Security committee moves to stop mining in homes

Odumase (Ash), Sept. 5, GNA - The Asante-Akim Central Municipal Security Committee has signaled decisive action to stop mining right inside homes, describing it as a disturbing twist to illegal gold digging in the area.

People in many communities across the municipality are increasingly turning their homes into mining pits and this committee said it would go to all lengths to defeat.

The illegal activity has become be more pronounced, particularly at Odumase, near Konongo, Alhaji Braimah Boyong, the Municipal Chief Executive , said, warning that a massive security operation has been launched to arrest offenders.

He told a meeting held by the Committee with chiefs, property owners and other opinion leaders that inaction would only put more lives at risk, which is unacceptable.

He asked all to join the fight to rein in the illegal miners, adding that, they should stop at nothing until there is sanity.

Already, 11 people have been arrested and about 100 sacks of stones believed to contain gold ore and some digging implements seized.

Additionally, 13 structures including one on the premises of a church have been levelled.

Alhaji Boyong warned that the committee would not listen to any chief who might attempt to plead for the illegal miners, saying, after they had destroyed farmlands, food crop and cocoa farms, they would not be allowed to extend their activities to residential areas.

They either quit in their own interest or face the full force of the law.

The chiefs gave their backing but asked that the Committee allowed some space to enable them to engage their people to persuade them to give up the practice and cover the pits dug.

Police Superintendent Sulley Ibrahim, the Municipal Commander, later led newsmen to a house where five mining pits had been dug and a standby generator installed to provide electricity and air to miners underground.

GNA