Dominic Nitiwul
Two Chinese illegal miners have been arrested in the fight against Galamsey.
Minister for Defense, Dominic Nitiwul, made this known to the media at a press briefing on Friday, April 30, 2021 in Accra.
He said the two Chinese were arrested in the Central Region following the deployment of the 200 soldiers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
According to him, nine excavators have been seized and destroyed.
Some 127 chafins have been seized and destroyed.
He stated that one pump action gun, a generator, one huawei phone, two drilling equipment were seized.
He said all items seized will be destroyed.
He added that only equipment that police demands for investigation will be spared from destruction.
Helicopters will carry armed men to patrol the places in three days and the security men will take action if they see anyone return to site, according to him.
The task of the armed forces and the lands and natural resources ministry is to ensure that river Pra is cleaner, he noted.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said an end has been brought to prospecting, exploration and reconnaissance in forest reserves.
He noted that there were about 105 companies holding prospecting, reconnaissance licenses and those whose applications were pending.
He reiterated that forest reserves and river bodies have been declared “red zones”.
By Melvin Tarlue