Illegal miners operating in the Ashanti Region’s forests and water bodies have been given a two-week ultimatum to halt their activities or face strict legal action.
Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has reaffirmed his dedication to protecting the region’s natural resources while supporting President John Mahama’s vision of responsible mining.
“Anyone in the forest reserve mining should vacate those places. We are giving them up to two weeks. If you are mining within the forest reserves and you don’t want to be on the bad side of the law, you have two weeks to leave the place,” he declared.
He further outlined his administration’s firm stance on eliminating mining activities that have contaminated water bodies, warning that swift action would be taken against those who fail to comply.
“If you have any investment in the water bodies, polluting the water bodies, you have two weeks to leave. We will send out a team to make sure we restore normalcy within the mining sector,” he cautioned.
Illegal mining remains a significant challenge in the Ashanti Region, with forests and rivers continuously under threat despite previous government interventions. Dr. Amoakohene assured that his administration is fully committed to enforcing strict measures to curb the menace and restore environmental integrity.
