Ghana News Agency has reported that some illegal miners at Patriensa near Konongo have gnored the government’s order to stop galamsey activities in the area.
The government bowed to the request of advocacy groups and campaigns by groups such as the ‘Media Campaign Against Galamsey’ and instructed the security forces and chiefs to halt galamsey. However, it appears that either the the message is not getting through, or the youth in the galamsey business have ignored the instructions. Ghana news Agency reports that to the youth, “it is business as usual”. They have resorted to mining at night.
However, people in the vicinity can hear the sound of mining excavators used to dig for the gold. A source added that the “miners have continued to pollute the Owere River and destroy the environment.” Those with intimate knowledge of the illicit mining have pointed fingers at some influential people in the area including chiefs of being behind the illicit mining in the area.
