Illegal Mining Is Affecting Us – Nsutam Residents Cry Out

Residents of Akyem Nsutam in the Eastern Region of Ghana are complaining bitterly of the adverse effects of Galamsey in the area.

It is recalled that in early January 2017, after H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo was elected into office, by virtue of constant pressure from the media, opinion leaders, pressure groups and other stakeholders, he called for immediate stoppage of all forms of mining except large scale mining. Meaning illegal mining which is popularly known in Ghana as Galamsey and Small Scale miners were asked to put down their tools to help him sanitize the mining environment.

One way the NPP government employed to restore the dignity and fertility of the land is to introduce Reclamation. Thus, the miners are ordered to refill the mounds, and holes they dig in the cause of mining.

However, upon Radio 1’s visit to the site on Monday September 10, 2018 and with interrogations with the residents of the area, they complained the reclamation exercise has stopped and they believe the Galamseyers now sneak to do their routine jobs which is illegal and thereby call on the Chief, Government and other Stakeholders to come to their aid because potable water is not common to them anymore. They also said their routes to their farms are also raided by these Galamseyers.

The Chief of Akyem Nsutam, Osabarima Baafi Sarpong Kumankuma, who was furious upon seeing the state of the site invited the media, sub chiefs and the Operation Vanguards to intervene and help remedy the menace.

According to the Chief, when he inquired why the reclamation has stopped, he was told they were short of sand. So he promised to fund the sand by himself. No sooner had he begun the supply of the sand than the raining season began. So he was asked to exercise patient till the dry season to avoid the trucks getting stuck in the mud.

Radio 1 news Crew will be monitoring to update you.

By: Radio1News|Ghana