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The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has given a month’s ultimatum to owners of excavators and mining equipment operating along the banks of the Birim River to move their equipment out of the jurisdiction or get them confiscated.
The order follows a report from managers of Ghana Water Company Limited indicating a rather higher level of turbidity of raw water drawn from the Birim River to the Kyebi water treatment plant.
Managers of the Ghana Water Company Limited says if nothing was done about the level of turbidity in the Birim River, their plant may break down and can’t process raw water for mass consumption within the Kyebi township and its surroundings.
Residents of Kyebi in the last two months have complained about the density of chemicals emanating from their taps.
Some have also complained about the dirty nature of the water that flows from their taps coupled with the erratic nature of supply of water by the Ghana Water Company Limited to various homes and businesses in the last two months.
The consistent complaints by residents led to a discovery to the point that, many illegal miners had gone back to the Birim River, causing serious devastation to the river and the environment.
In a press statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of the Akyem Abuakwa State, the Okyenhene in consultation with the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has ordered for the removal of all mining equipment along the Birim River.
The statement signed by the State Secretary, Mr D.M. Ofori-Atta, indicates that, a taskforce will be commissioned in earnest to commence the confiscation of all mining equipment working along the Birim River.
It says that, no miner is required to mine closer to any river body let alone mine within rivers.
According to the statement, the taskforce will begin to confiscate mining equipment effective February 28, 2025.
Adding that, Nananom have a responsibility to protect their environment and water bodies if the State security agencies decline to do the same.
“The Council wishes to inform the general public that a taskforce has been constituted to rid the Birim River of illegal miners operating along the Birim River. All owners of excavator machines are hereby ordered to remove them on or before February 28, 2025”, the statement said.
The statement continues that “please take note and notice is hereby given that the Council has ordered its taskforce to remove and confiscate excavators and other mining equipment without further recourse to their owners.”
BY TIMES REPORTER
