River Tano Not Polluted

The Minerals Commission has refuted claim suggesting that the Tano River within Bibiani in the Western NorthRegion has been polluted as a result of illegal mining, otherwise called ‘galamsey.’

The commission explained that,as at last Saturday, September 17, the district officer of the Bibiani office of the commission had visited the area where the river is alleged to have been polluted and duly confirmed that, the river, along the steel bridge, is clean contrary to media reports.

According to the commission, government has taken measures to deal with the illegal mining menace, and, as a result, called on the media to team up with all stakeholders to clamp down on the canker.

A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Unit of the commission and sighted by The Anchor, stressed that, the media’s role in providing education and information about the menace is critical in fighting the canker, which is destroying the forest reserve and water bodies.

It noted that, such collaborative efforts had led to the stopping of illegal mining in the Tano River, making the rivercurrently clean.

“The Commission wishes to inform the public that on September 17, the District Officer of the Bibiani Office of the Commission visited the area and duly confirmed that the river along the bridge is clean as per the video attached,” it added.

The statement added that measures taken by government to deal with illegal mining was being implemented with some positive outcomes being recorded.

“These measures include the purchase of speed boats for the permanent patrol of the waterbodies by the Ghana Navy, the training of river guards to complement the efforts of the Ghana Navy, tracking of earth movingmachines and decommissioning of excavators and other structures mounted in the waterbodies,” it stated.

The commission, per the statement, reiterated that the fight against illegal mining should be a concerted effort by all Ghanaians.

It commended the district officer at Bibiani for his collaborative efforts with the Ghana Police Service that resulted in the arrest of the town chief and his brother as persons behind the illegal mining at SefwiElubo in the Western North Region.

Source: Anchorghana