The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has extended a heavy warning to recalcitrant illegal miners to refrain from mining in the country’s various river bodies.
According to him, failure to heed the warning will call for the Ministry's wrath.
Addressing Journalists in Accra on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister said "Those who are determined to destroy our heritage, we will come after you and I'm using this medium to sound a stern warning to these recalcitrants to refrain from mining in our river bodies"
Hon. Duker told Journalists that his Ministry has been updated on tactics devised by the illegal miners.
He noted that since the illegal miners have vowed not to bring to an end their activities, the army is also prepared to face them boot for boot.
"256 equipments have been decommissioned including some chanfans, water pumps, and excavators"
He, however, mentioned that about 26 suspects have also been nabbed by the police.
Briefing Journalists on the country’s community mining scheme (CMS), he explained that the Akufo-Addo administration has commissioned six (6) of them.
"These six schemes are expected to generate about 10,000 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs"
Stressing on the CMS Mireku Duker revealed that Tepa, a community in the Ashanti Region of Ghana will hold its 7th edition.
"There has been an establishment of a Minerals Development Unit at the Agricultural Development Bank (Bank) to ensure that Small Scale Mining operators have access to credit facilities for their operations.
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Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith