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| 5 Chinese Galamseyers Nabbed |
5/5/2011 |
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THE WESTERN Regional Police command has arrested eight suspects including five Chinese for engaging in illegal mining activities at Wassa Akropong in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the region.
Items retrieved from the suspects at their mining site included a pump-action gun, a double eagle pistol, 17(BB) cartridges and six (AA) live ammunitions and some equipment used in the illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey.
The eight suspects are being processed for court today.
The Regional Police Commander, Moses Ransford Ninson, who told journalists during an interaction in Sekondi yesterday, added that 16 persons including four Ivoirians who were also engaged in illegal mining along the banks of River Bonsa and at Sekyere Heman near Tarkwa were also picked up at Bonsaso on May 2, 2011.
Narrating how the suspects were arrested, the police commander indicated that his outfit had information that some unscrupulous persons were polluting the river bodies in some parts of the region through illegal mining activities.
He said on May 2, 2011, a joint Police and Military team embarked on an operation at Bonsaso to clampdown on the activities of the illegal miners.
The Regional Police Commander pointed out that equipment, including pumping machines, shovels and pick-axes among others which were being used by the suspects in their nefarious activities were seized and dismantled.
He added that on May 4, 2011, the 16 suspects were put before the Takoradi Circuit court presided over by Charles Nimako on a provisional charge of illegal mining contrary to section 73 of the PNDC law 153/186.
Their pleas were not taken and were remanded into police custody to reappear on May 10, 2011.
He stressed that drastic actions would be taken against all illegal small scale miners in the region polluting the water bodies, and degrading the forest reserves and the environment in the region.
DCOP Ninson gave the assurance that the police would do their best until the activities of illegal miners were stopped.
He cautioned illegal miners to put a stop to their activities or apply for concessions and licences from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and regularise their operations.
“By so doing, they will fill the deep trenches they dig and also plant trees to restore the forest they deplete to revitalize the environment,” he noted.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi
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