DCE leads the arrest of 'galamsey' operators

Madam Doris Gyapomaa Oduro, District Chief Executive for Amenfi East, on Thursday led security agents to arrest four people believed to be leaders of a 'galamsey' gang at Adesu near Wassa-Akropong.

Paul Atike, 20, Christopher Amissah 22, Ben Atike, 20 and Collins Amissah, 25, have all been granted bail pending police investigations. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wassa Akropong, Madam Oduro said the activities of the gang posed serious danger on the Adesu-Nkyiase road thereby making it unsafe for vehicles using the road. The only bridge over river Adesu is also being seriously endangered with the risk of collapsing due to the illegal activity of the 'galamsey' operators.

She said the gang had been polluting the river, which is the source of water for many communities in the district. The free flow of water under the bridge has also been hampered because the waterway has been silted with sand and rocks dug into the river.

Madam Oduro said the District Assembly had given two weeks ultimatum to other "galamsey" operators to leave the area or face prosecution.