The Municipal Chief Executive for Wassa Amenfi East, Hon Helena Appiah has appealed to Traditional rulers and residents of Wassa Mampong to form a Community Watchdog to support government in the fight against ‘Galamsey’ (illegal mining) activities in the area.
She reiterated that the government’s fight against illegal mining was to prevent the wanton destruction of the environment, particularly water bodies, the vegetation cover and other natural resources for sustainable development.
Helena Appiah made the appeal when she paid a working visit to the Wassa Mampong Community at a joint meeting of the Chiefs, a team from the Operation Vanguard, the Municipal Assembly and the indigents on Friday 7, in the Western Region.
The visit among other objectives enabled the Municipal Chief Executive to educate the miners on illegal mining and assess the situation on the ground as far as the ban on ‘galamsey’ operations by the government is concerned.
According to the MCE, the formation of the volunteer neighborhood watchdog groups will help to augment the efforts of the NPP government to combat Galamsey activities in their communities.
Addressing the chiefs, Helena Appiah said that president Akufo-Addo has introduced a Community Mining Scheme which is an alternative livelihood innovative policy for the youth in Mining Communities.
She indicated that Community Mining Scheme is aimed at providing members of mining communities the opportunity to engage in lawful and meaningful mining ventures and thereby provide sustainable livelihoods for the beneficiaries of the Scheme.
She finally urged the youth to apply for the community Mining Scheme located in the municipality and abstain from all illegal activities to avoid harassment by the Vanguard operatives.