Traditional rulers blamed for increased illegal mining

Mr. Kwaku Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh, Ejisu-Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, has blamed the upsurge in illegal mining on irresponsible leadership and selfishness of some traditional rulers and clan leaders.

He said these unpatriotic chiefs and clan leaders connive and collect huge sums of money from the illegal operators and allocate large parcels of land for them to carry their nefarious activities which does not only affect the environment but also other social lives in the affected communities.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Peminase, a farming community notorious for illegal mining activities, Mr Yamoah Ponkoh, blamed the fallen standard of education in the community on the deep interest of parents in mining at the expense of their children’s education.

Most school children also run away from school and enter into mining pits to carry sand and prospect for gold.

Mr Yamoah Ponkoh also inaugurated a kindergarten block for the community.    It was constructed by GETFund  at a cost of GH¢119,691 and has a block of three classroom, dining hall, office and a store.

He said the Assembly would team up with the central government to flush out the illegal miners and appealed to children to go to school instead of engaging in mining activities.

Opanin Kwasi Owusu, an opinion leader in the town praised the government for the project and pledged the support of the people to ensure the proper use of the facility to help improve academic performance in the area.

Source: GNA