By Jack Adom
Unhappy with the savage plundering and pollution of forest and water bodies in the country, particularly in Ashanti Region, the king of Ashanti has urged the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency to stop the devastation of the nation?s forest and water bodies in the mining communities throughout the country.
Otumfuor Osei Tutu II ?ordered? the two government agencies and other stakeholders to take immediate action to stop the recklessness of illegal miners and criminals destroying the environment for their selfish greed. The Minerals Commission and the EPS, he said needed to act ?now and fast? to ensure strict supervision and monitoring of the affected communities so that the right thing is done.
The King made this statement when the former Chief Executive of Ghana Chamber of Mines, now Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Dr Tony Aubynn, with his directors, paid a courtesy call on him in Kumasi.
In his candid opinion, the two government bodies were not doing much to check illegal mining and protection of the environment, particularly in the hinterlands where illegal small scale miners have taken liberties and doing all kinds of things which impact negatively on the people in the communities, adding ?I am saddened by the extent to which our environment is being degraded on daily basis due to the activities of the small scale miners?.
As a knowledgeable and keen watcher of the mining industry, Otumfuor Osei Tutu cannot be faulted for his hard stance on the liberties taken by illegal miners, who are destroying farmlands, forests and water bodies in the country, especially in Ashanti Region, where thousands of illegal miners, including the Chinese are messing up the environment under the noses and eyes of the law enforcement agencies.
Possibly, the king was referring to the competitive savagery with which illegal miners are conducting their irresponble ?activities in communities like Obuasi, Sanso, Ahnsonyewodia, Fiankoma, Odaso, ?Anwiam, Achiase, Adomanum, Apitikoko, Apitiso, Kowia, Anwona, Sanso, Kyekyewere, Homasi, Nyamebekyere, Adangragye, Odumasi, Manso, all in Obuasi Municipal and the Amansie Central district.
The Ashanti King said it was seriously disturbing that in spite of the many laws and policies put in place by the government to promote safe and responsible mining to protect the environment and the nation, were far from achieving this. The king also took the opportunity to lambast once again chiefs and traditional leaders in the mining communities who have made themselves direct and indirect accessories to illegal miners, saying this is ?completely shameful and awful?.
On his part, Dr. Aubynn, who is ?also the chief of Demang in Western Region, pledged the determination of the commission to do everything it could to tackle the illegal mining menace and assured the King that steps were been taken to fully address the illegal mining problem, and thanked the king for his support and blessing.
