The Ablekuma West constituency member of parliament has called on the government to, with immediate effect, ban all forms of mining on our water bodies and forest reserves.
He described mining in our water bodies and forest reserves as a threat to both human life and the environment.
He proposes a one-year ban on mining in water bodies and forest reserves.
Rev. Addo said,’In my little mind, I am proposing an immediate ban of all forms of small-scale mining on our water bodies and forest reserves. I know it employs hundreds of thousands of people, but it has to be halted for a year.
They shouldn’t do both at the same time. Those who are mining on our water bodies should be banned immediately. Thereafter, we can access the situation and decide on the way forward. After the ban, we can employ the miners for the reforestation project and pay them,” he said on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.
Meanwhile, a combined team of the Forestry Commission‘s (FC) Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and 30 military personnel has arrested four individuals during an operation in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve within the Enchi Forest District of the Western North Region.
The operatives seized nine excavators and one bulldozer during the operation.
The operation was carried out on Sunday, 9th March 2025. The joint team targeted the illegal mining activities within Compartments 17 and 20 of the reserve.
The seized equipment has been transported to the Enchi District Assembly premises for safekeeping.
A formal complaint has been lodged with the Enchi District Police Command to facilitate further investigations and legal action against the alleged illegal miners.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
