Western North: Galamsey identified as cause of babies born without eyes, nose, ears in Aowin -Report
- Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George, has already said illegal miners must be punished by firing squad
- He made the call on Joy News
- The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation also stated that the government will do what it pleases with seized galamsey equipment
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Information gathered by YEN.com.gh indicates that illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey is having a devastating effect on inhabitants of the Aowin District of the Western North Region.
Source: Getty Images
According to a Starrfm.com.gh report, disturbing figures from the Sewum Health Centre in the District show a high number of babies being born without some vital body parts as a result of the nefarious activities of ‘galamseyers’.
This is because pregnant women in the District drink water “contaminated with chemicals” used by the galamseyers in mining.
Gifty Adwoa Adjanor, a midwife at the Sewum Health Centre told the Accra-based outlet that as the one in charge at the facility, she had recorded cases of newborn babies without nose, eyes, ears, among others.
She attributed the worrying trend to the “highly polluted river” in the district, thanks to the chemicals being used by illegal miners who are mining along river bodies.
In other news, Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Samuel George, said persons engaged in illegal mining otherwise known as ‘galamsey’ must be instantly executed via the firing squad.
Speaking on a Joy News panel discussion on Thursday, April 6, 2021, according to a report sighted on Ghanaweb, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislator expressed fear his children and “your children will not have portable water to drink” due to illegal mining.
"If the person is NDC, if the person is a national executive of the NDC, arrest him and jail him. I believe that for the first time we should actually have the firing squad brought back,” Sam George added.
In the meantime, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) stated that the government will do what it pleases with seized galamsey equipment.
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie said as earlier reported by YEN.com.gh that the government will continue to burn excavators being used for illegal mining when soldiers seize them.
He said those who do not agree with them burning the machines should feel free to drag them to court.
According to him, burning the machines is the best alternative to fighting illegal mining rather than seizing and keeping them.
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.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
