DAILY GUIDE has gathered that some illegal miners (locally called galamseyer), are still engaging in the illegal act at Wassa Manso in the Western Region, despite government’s ban on their activities.
According to reports, as a result of the activities of the galamseyers, commercial sex workers and drug peddlers purportedly from Nigeria, have invaded the farming community to ply their trade.
The commercial sex workers whose clients are mainly the galamsey operators, according to sources, charge between GH¢20 and GH¢30 per sexual encounter, and GH¢120 for a full night spent with the client.
A visit to the Wassa Manso community in the Mpohor District of the region, revealed the alleged commercial sex workers roaming the community for ‘business.’
It was also revealed that galamsey activities are still prevalent as the illegal miners had occupied large portions of land in the community and plying their trade.
Some of the residents alleged that the galamsey operators had erected sheds popularly called ghettos, and could be seen smoking in the full glare of the community members, including children.
They also asserted that the commercial sex workers were accommodated in a guest house which belongs to a prominent person in the area.
The town committee chairman, Emmanuel Duaw, bemoaned the activities of galamseyers and the sex workers and stressed that if action was not taken immediately to curb the menace, the entire community would be adversely affected.
Gyaasehene of Wassa Manso, Nana Kojo Tandoh, indicated that the traditional authorities were aware of the illegal mining activities in the community and were working with the necessary authorities to get those involved arrested.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi