News:
June 10, 2013
Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia in the Ashante Region, Yaw Frimpong Addo has expressed fear that needless death may soon occur in the constituency if several abandoned mining pits are not covered.
According to him, many of such pits dotted around the area have been left uncovered as the miners deserted the mines for fear of being arrested by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force after they stormed the place.
Nearly a month ago President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Task Force chaired by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, with the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Woyongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, as members to flush out Ghanaians and foreigners engaged in illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.
The task force is mandated to ensure that laws on small-scale mining are fully enforced and seize all equipment used by those who fail to comply with new directives on obtaining or renewing their licences.
However speaking on Hot FM, MP for the area Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo was of the opinion that the miners should have been allowed some time to fill the pits before being flushed out of the place.
“Now that the miners have run away for their dear lives, who is going to cover the pits and how soon will it be done’’ he asked?
He said the modus operandi of the Taskforce must be clearly spelt out and known by the public as there have been reports of some military and the police personnel assaulting people found on mining concessions.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh