Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has stated that a group of persons arrested for illegal mining will be brought before the law and that his ministry is poised to halt the illegal mining menace.

He said it was unfortunate to note that the arrested persons were from neighboring countries and were aided by Ghanaians to destroy the country’s water bodies.

The Deputy Minister expressed disappointment that the illegal mining activities are costing water bodies and farmlands, indicating that his office will go at any length to punish wrongdoers.

Mr. Mireku Duker was speaking from Birim North District of the Eastern Region where the Operation Halt team arrested seven foreigners for engaging in illegal mining.

Speaking on-site about the incident, the Deputy Minister told Metro TV’s Alberta Bissue that natives from the environs were involved in the criminal activity adding that citizens of the country helped them to find their way.

“People coming from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Benin, and so on. Those who have been arrested can attest to that fact and it’s very unfortunate that Ghanaians are allowing this to happen,” he said on Friday, October 1, 2021.

He said the affected areas are losing their livestock due to contaminated water and while planters are worried, the nation stands at risk of losing its cash crops as well.

“Animals are dying because they are drinking from diverted water that has been polluted by mercury and so on. Farmers are complaining. They are destroying Cocoa farms and so on,” he expressed.

Mr. Duker indicated that the country has lost the naturalness of one of its river bodies saying that it must be a major concern to the citizenry charging everyone to keep their guard and be informed on such happenings.

“Now, if you see behind me, the Pra River has been diverted and hugely polluted. This is a worry to Ghanaians and I believe Ghanaians must be alert now. I mean everybody,” he urged.

“We cannot fight the battle alone. These people are going to be prosecuted, no doubt. We are going to continue unabated. We’re not stopping at anything. I believe from here, we will not disclose our next point of cod,” he added.

By: Ernest Tetteh Kabu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana