By: Jonathan Thompson
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly in the Western Region, Hon. Benjamin Kessie, has pledged his commitment to his fight against Galamsey operators after making some arrests of operators in a recent taskforce raid on some illegal mining sites.
Seven Galamsey operators on the Bonsa river were arrested last Wednesday, August 31, 2022, with six chanfans and wooden floating vessels which they were operating with.
This comes barely two weeks after a similar operation was carried out at the same location along the river.
A taskforce, which was set up to patrol the Bonsa river, met the Galamsey operators who had earlier been chased away, but returned to the same area of the river to continue their illegal activities.
Describing these Galamsey operators as recalcitrant, Hon. Kessie said, they have prayed for the police to prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others who engaged in such heartless activities.
Reiterating his commitment to fighting the galamsey menace, especially on the river bodies, the MCE, who is also the Chairman of the Municipal Security Council, said the Municipal Security Council is determined to regularly pursue these illegal mining operators and bring them to book.
He, however, warned the Galamsey operators to stay off the Bonsa river and other river bodies before the law catches up with them.
During his 3rd quarter community visitations tour of the year 2022, the MCE called on all stakeholders in the municipality, including the chiefs, Assembly members, security agencies, politicians, the youth, and civil society organisations, to get actively involved in the fight against the galamsey canker, and ensure responsible community mining.
He said the community mining initiative by government will ensure responsible small-scale mining to safeguard the environment and preserve our natural heritage for future generations.