Hon. Benjamin Kessie, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly in the Western Region, said he remained committed to his fight against Galamsey Operators, whose activities are destroying river bodies in the Municipality.
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Seven Galamsey operators on the Bonsa river were arrested on Wednesday, 31st August 2022, with six Changfans and wooden floating vessels in which they were operating, also decommissioned. This happens barely two weeks after a similar operation was carried out at the same location along the river.
Surprisingly, a Taskforce set up to patrol on the Bonsa river met the Galamsey operators who had earlier been chased away but returned to virtually the same area of the Bonsa river to operate.
Describing these Galamsey operators as recalcitrant, Hon. Kessie said they have prayed for the police to prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others who engaged in such heartless activities.
Reiterating his commitment to fighting against the galamsey menace, especially on the river bodies, the MCE, who is also the Chairman of the Municipal Security Council, said, the Municipal Security Council is determined to regularly pursue these illegal mining operators and bring them to book.
He, however, warned the Galamsey operators to stay off from the Bonsa river and other river bodies before the law apprehend them.
During his 3rd quarter community visitations tour of the year, 2022, the MCE called on all stakeholders in the Municipality, including the chiefs, Assembly members, security agencies, politicians, the youth, and civil society organizations, to get actively involved in the fight against the galamsey canker, and ensure responsible Community mining.
He said the Community mining initiative by the government will ensure responsible small-scale mining to safeguard the environment and preserve our natural heritage for the next generations.