The District Chief Executive for Wassa Amenfi East, Stephen Baidoo Acheampong has blamed land owners and chiefs in the Wassa Adansi community for contributing to the increasing spate of illegal mining popularly referred to as “Galamsey” in the area.

According to him, the indigenes release lands to operatives of these illegal activities without  recourse to district authorities.

This he noted makes it very difficult for the assembly to monitor and regulate activities of the galamsey operators because authorities are  not aware in most cases.

“We only hear from them (residents) when they are faced with challenges from such operations.

They completely sideline the assembly when releasing lands for these activities”.

He expressed worry about galamsey activities and the negative effect it is having on the environment and other resources more importantly water bodies.

Mr. Baidoo Acheampong’s comment follows an alarm raised by residents of Wassa Adansi of possible water borne diseases due to pollution of their water bodies.

The residents said the only reliable potable water source for the entire community is one borehole.

Meanwhile, the DCE disclosed that there are plans to drill more boreholes in the community by September this year to augment the existing one.  

He called on the residents to help government in tackling the menace by informing authorities of galamsey activities.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com