Two persons have been arrested over illegal mining in Kwahu West Municipality of Eastern Region following a report filed by Nkawkaw based Agoo FM last two weeks.
The rampant illegal mining in some communities which was also published by kasapafmonline.com when Agoo FM’s Ebenezer Kojo Nyavor investigations revealed some landowners and farmers sold their cocoa farms to foreigners to operate Galamsey.
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The affected communities include Wawaase, Atonsu, Besease, Essaase, Adumasua, Yaakorkor, Ahantanan and surrounding communities sold out their cocoa farms to these galamsey operators who use gold detector machines for easy identification.
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Some foreigners have been camped in the same communities who have been engaging in illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey destroying over 1000 acres of cocoa farms.
The dangerous part of this operation is that almost all the cocoa trees do not last longer few days after operating and for that matter, the farms have been totally destroyed.
Sources say some Youth from Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin have been deployed to engage in the galamsey business.
It is unclear if the farmers were not aware of the implications toward their cocoa farm before handing over their farms to these foreigners.
Queen mother of Yaakorkor Nana Hemaa Ama Ofori has expressed disappointment over the menace but do not know how to engage the ministry of lands and natural resources to take measures to address the issues.
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Moreover, Obo Gyaase Nana Dr. Okra Baadu III in an interview said, he has put together a full documentary that is yet to be released to expose some prominent people behind the act.
A farmer and a resident in the area who spoke to Agoo news said the landowners give these Galamsey operators the opportunity to operate.
Addressing journalists today Monday 18th November 2019 at the palace Obomeng Chief Odeɛfour Effah Opinamang III gave a stern warning to farmers and land owners who engage in such manner after a search patrol team from the chief’s palace arrested 2 persons.
The suspected Galamsey operators are Kofi Amoateng, 47years from Ofinso and Lary Jaco, 34 years who are yet be handed over to the Mpraeso Police Command for further interrogations.
Speaking on behalf of Obomeng Chief the Afransoafourhene, Nana Akuamoah Asomani said the two were arrested with a machine aiding them in their jobs adding that Obomenghene Odeɛfour Effah Opinamang III is not in support of the illegal mining in the area.
Source: kasapafmonline.com
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