The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has cautioned illegal miners to brace for a crackdown, as a task force will soon be deployed to enforce mining regulations in the region.
“We know there are laws, and we must obey them. If you are mining without a license and the task force comes after you, they will act strictly according to the law,” she said in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem.
To tackle the menace, she revealed that a nine-member committee has been formed, comprising representatives from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the military, the police, the Minerals Commission, the Forestry Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.
“This committee was set up last week, and their mandate is to monitor mining activities, especially along riverbanks, and take the necessary legal action against illegal miners,” she said.
The Minister further stated that this week, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) will meet with both large- and small-scale miners to educate them on the laws governing mining.
“We will not announce our operations. The task force will appear at mining concessions to ensure compliance,” she warned.
However, she clarified that the task force would not arrest those mining legally on their concessions or seize their machines unnecessarily, as the government recognizes their importance.
While traditional leaders are not part of the committee, she assured that they would be engaged in the process.
“We will seek the consent of chiefs and collaborate with them to find sustainable ways to curb illegal mining,” she noted.
The crackdown aims to ensure responsible mining practices and protect the environment from the devastating effects of illegal mining.
