Ten-member task force inaugurated to tackle illegal mining in Ashanti Region

A 10-member task force to help tackle the growing menace of illegal gold mining and sand winning in Ashanti Region has been inaugurated in Kumasi by the Minerals Commission.

It has as its Coordinator, Mr Kofi Adjei of the Regional Office of the Commission.

Mr Michael .K. Botchway, Deputy Chief Inspector of Mines, said it was disturbing the destruction caused to the environment through the activities of the miners and sand winners.

He said this could no longer be allowed to continue and must be dealt with more firmly and decisively.

The task force would work in collaboration with the Police and the Military to ensure the success of its operations.

Mr Botchway asked people interested in legal mining and sand winning to obtain licenses from the Commission and permit from the district assemblies.

He said the Commission had commenced series of programmes to sensitize the public on the Minerals Act 703 to help the people to appreciate the law.

Mr Botchway urged the Task Force to work hard to track down the offending miners and sand winners to help conserve the environment for posterity.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwasi Mensah Duku, Deputy Ashanti Police Commander, noted that most of those engaged in the illegal operation were often heavily armed and it was therefore prudent to involve the security personnel to check their activities.

He appealed to the public to support the task force with information.

Source: GNA