Illegal miners to be flushed out by force – Minister

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resource, Works and Housing, has warned illegal miners to stay clear of all water bodies or would be flushed out by force.

He said his ministry would continue the collaboration with the national security to wage war against illegal miners whose activities are polluting many water bodies and affecting safe water delivery in the country.

Alhaji Dauda said this during an interaction with management and staff of the Ghana Urban Water Limited in Accra.

The visit by the Minister which is his first to any agency under his ministry was to afford him the opportunity to ascertain the level of operation in the urban water delivery system.

Alhaji Dauda also warned chiefs and opinion leaders who aide some of these illegal miners to perpetuate their destructive activities to desist from such acts saying his outfit would not countenance such behaviors.

He said that the water delivery situation in the country was not the best and urged the management and staff of the company to do more to ensure safe and affordable water delivery to all corners of the society.

Alhaji Dauda appealed to the workers to bring to bear their professional competence so that together they can fix the problem in the water sector.

“I am not a serious office person but as much as possible I would like to be practical. We have done too much of ‘book long’ and this has gotten us nowhere,” he said.

He charged the workers to eschew laziness and arrogance and treat people they come into contact with courtesy.

In related development the Minister also paid a working visit to the Architects Registration Council (ARC) in Accra.

The visit afforded him the opportunity to interact with members of the ARC board.

Alhaji Dauda said he was there to interact with the architects and to learn from their professional competence to be able to advocate their concerns whenever issues relating to their sector are either raise in parliament or at cabinet meetings.

He called for regular interaction and cooperation between the council and the ministry to maintain high standards of professional practice.

Source: GNA