The National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana says it has achieved significant results in an ongoing effort to rid the Offin River of illegal mining activities, following two weeks of intensified security operations along the river.
President of the Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, said more than 100 illegal changfan machines operating on the river were destroyed during the exercise.
“The taskforce started operations in Achiase and moved downstream to Beposo, tracking the river through the Amansie Districts. We have destroyed over one hundred changfan machines mining on the river,” he stated.
Kwadwo Peprah explained that the taskforce relied on intelligence to trace the river’s flow and confront illegal miners who were dredging the riverbed for gold. He said speedboats were used to pursue the operators.
According to him, the operation has already yielded visible results. “The Offin River upstream is getting clearer, and that is the advantage of what we have been doing so far. We are only complementing what NAIMOS and other government agencies are doing,” he added.
The latest action comes two months after the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) banned the fabrication of changfan machines, citing their destructive environmental impact. The EPA also directed that anyone seeking to import such engines must obtain proper authorization.
Kwadwo Peprah welcomed the directive, noting that although changfans have legitimate uses, their deployment for illegal mining should not be tolerated.
Push for Responsible Mining Practices
The Association has urged small-scale miners to adopt environmentally responsible methods of operation. The President of the Association said the group has consistently trained its members on sustainable mining techniques.
“We would advise our members to take reclamation seriously. They should make sure that before they leave a site, they restore it,” he stressed.
He added that enforcement actions by NAIMOS should be paired with community sensitization efforts to discourage illegal mining and promote responsible practices.
The government has already begun rolling out public education campaigns in some mining communities.
Kwadwo Peprah, however, insists more needs to be done to sustain progress and ensure long-term protection of Ghana’s rivers and environment.
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Source: www.kumasimail.com
