The Atewa East District Security Council (DISEC) has issued a stern warning to both large- and small-scale mining operators within the district, indicating that legal action will be taken against any company that fails to restore degraded lands after mining operations.
According to DISEC, the caution stems from what it describes as the miners’ inability and indifferent response to a previous agreement reached with the District Assembly’s Mining Committee.
That agreement followed a successful profiling exercise involving concession holders, mining operators, and degraded sites identified across the district, as part of a community-led strategy to tackle illegal mining activities.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, December 17, after inspecting ongoing reclamation works in Anyinam, the Chairman of DISEC, Ernest Owusu Ntim, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to enforcing responsible mining practices to safeguard lives, property, and the environment.
He observed that while some mining operators have complied and begun reclamation efforts, others have failed to act despite repeated engagements. He warned that defaulters who continue to disregard the directive would face legal sanctions.
“Many lands have been destroyed.
Protecting those who engage in such mining activities puts the future of the community at risk. We have identified every pit and the individuals responsible. Some have returned, complied, and are now working on reclamation.
“Others have been given additional time to respond, but if they fail, we will take legal action against them,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a move to curb the use of changfans that pollute water bodies such as the Birim River, the District Chief Executive disclosed that DISEC has adopted a firm approach by dismantling the illegal structures with the assistance of gas welders.
He explained that the dismantled components are sold to scrap dealers, a process that also generates revenue for the District Assembly.
