The District Chief Executive for Dormaa East in the Brong Ahafo Region, Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, has incurred the wrath of persons engaged in illegal mining popularly known as galamsey, for waging a sustained fight against the activity in the area.
He has therefore called for support from partners and stakeholders to come to the aid of the district as the operations of the miners was wreaking havoc on productive farmlands and destroying their water bodies’
He commended President Nana Akufo-Addo’s vision and determination to bring to an end these societal enemies with the introduction of the Operation Vanguard, establishment of a permanent secretariat for the inter-ministerial committee, and recently the formation and inauguration of District committees against Illegal Mining (DCIM) in areas where the practice is common to bring the menace under control.
In a Citi News interview, Kofi Agyemang expressed his excitement and confidence that a permanent solution to the illegal mining menace was being funded by government to relieve Ghanaians from its devastating effects.
He said the activity was getting out of control in the district because the illegal miners are well armed, thereby making it difficult for the security forces in both the region and the district to flush them out.
“Yes, it’s true, I have been shit bombed because of my resolve to fight the menace when I was appointed by the President as the DCE. In the case of Asotiano, I was told by an informant that one of the boys said I needed to be shot and I said that cannot deter or put us off. I keep on telling them it’s the resolution of the President to bring an end to illegal mining that has virtually destroyed all our water bodies and degraded our lands, my brother we cannot allow it to continue”, he emphasized.
On job opportunities created by his outfit to engage the illegal miners and the youth, the DCE said the Assembly has so far built a database of about 3000 unemployed youth, and created a job center coordinating and working to ensure that they give them jobs.
He said they have established a youth development fund with contributions from residents, and the sole aim is to get jobs for the youth as an alternative to galamsey.
“The fact that the jobs are not yet ready, it does not mean we should destroy our water bodies. Our people are aware that we are putting in so much effort and in fact, we cannot rest until the youth get jobs”, he assured.
The DCE, therefore called for support from the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area, to make the government’s development agenda a reality in the area.
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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana