We will burn all excavators used in galamsey; feel free to drag us to court - Minister
- The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has stated that the government will do what it pleases with seized galamsey equipment
- According to him, they will continue to burn excavators being used for illegal mining when soldiers seize them
- Dr Afriyie said those who do not agree with them burning the machines should feel free to drag them to court
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The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has stated that the government will do what it pleases with seized galamsey equipment.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie says the government will continue to burn excavators being used for illegal mining when soldiers seize them.
In a report filed by Citinews, Dr Afriyie said those who do not agree with them burning the machines should feel free to drag them to court.
Source: UGC
According to him, burning the machines is the best alternative to fighting illegal mining rather than seizing and keeping them.
He said going through the court processes to decide the fate of seized excavators will delay and frustrate the fight against illegal mining.
Dr Afriyie said burning the machines is the sure way to go and they will not hesitate in doing that in the future fight against the menace.
President Akufo-Addo gave an order for the deployment of soldiers to mining areas to clamp down on activities by illegal miners.
The soldiers, numbering 200 were poled together to undertake this operation which started on Wednesday morning, April 28, 2021, at 6 am.
The deployed soldiers were expected to remove all those engaging in the illegal act and also destroy the logistics involved in mining from Ghana’s water bodies.
In a related development, two Chinese nationals were arrested in the Western Region for illegal small-scale mining.
The two Chinese illegal miners were arrested at their rented residence at Ateiku in the Western Region.
The miners who were protected by armed guards were operating at a site in Patatwumso.
The arrest was made by the Wassa East District Security Council and the Ghana Police Service.
Meanwhile, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has stated that the government will soon roll out a sustainable programme on the deployment of soldiers to areas where illegal mining in water bodies is rife.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
