The Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Kwesi Dawood, has expressed sorrow over the drowning of about 22 individuals in galamsey pits in the Central Region within seven months.
Mr. Dawood disclosed that the situation is alarming and heartbreaking, noting that the abandoned pits have claimed innocent lives, especially women and children.
He revealed at a media briefing that a taskforce would be established to reclaim illegal mining sites across all mining districts in the region, adding that the taskforce, which will operate in Assin North, Assin Central, Upper Denkyira and the Komenda-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality, will comprise of security agencies, NADMO, Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies, the Environmental Protection Authority, Mineral Commission, miners and the media.
According to Mr. Dawood, the initiative aims to address the safety risks and environmental damage caused by illegal mining, stressing that the initiative would be led by the Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, to transform galamsey sites into fruitful agricultural areas.
He added that the communities would receive free seedlings to promote agriculture, in order to create alternative sources of income for the residents.
He said, “The initiative includes implementing our Tree for Life Reforestation policy aimed at cultivating cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm and rubber on rehabilitation sites.”
By Florence Asamoah Adom