Concerned Youth of Suaman, a pressure group in the Suaman District in the Western Region have accused their District Chief Executive (DCE), Joseph Baah, of being complicit in illegal mining in the area.
The Chairman for the group, Isaac Kojo Abeam, who spoke to Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Atinka AM Drive Wednesday, explained that it is impossible for illegal miners to storm a community and indulge in illegal mining without the support of DCEs and chiefs.
According to Isaac Kojo Abeam, all efforts by the Suaman youth group to get the DCE and the Chiefs to chase these illegal miners from the district have failed.
“Even if they have the legal documents, the government has extended the ban on illegal mining to 2019 and so they have no right to engage in illegal mining unless they have the backing of the DCE, the stakeholders and the Chiefs of the land,” he fumed.
Reacting to the allegation, DCE for Suaman District, Joseph Baah denied the claims and asked the group to rather commend him for his efforts in fighting galamsey in the district other than being ungrateful.
According to him, persons who are still mining in the district are those believed to have been okayed by the Minerals Commission.
According to him, investigations are being conducted to verify claims that the Commission has given them approval.
Ghana | atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa