Okofrobour Obeng Nuakoh III, the Chief of Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central region has called on all miners to stop desecrating and polluting the Offin river.
He noted that the fact that Dunkwa is a mining town does not mean mining should be done irresponsibly and entreated all miners to reclaim mined areas and avoid degradation and pollution of forests and water bodies.
The Dunkwa Chief, who was addressing the chiefs and people at the forecourt of his palace while observing Akwasidae last Sunday, said the people deserve clean and good water.
Nana Nuakoh reminded miners to as much as possible protect the environment in carrying out their activities in the interest of posterity.
He has therefore urged the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be proactive and check activities of illegal miners to save the land from wanton destruction.
The Dunkwahene has also cautioned against indiscriminate invocation of curses at the least provocation which practice leads to loss of lives.
He warned that anybody arraigned before the palace court for invoking a curse would severely be dealt with.
Meanwhile, Okofrobour Obeng Nuakoh has debunked rumours doing the rounds in the locality that he is involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in the Offin River.
He explained that his gesture to help dredge the choked Offin River as a result of years of mining in the Offin, Densu , Pra and Ankobrah Rivers, which floods the surrounding communities whenever it rains, does not mean he is engaged in illegal mining.
He mentioned that the Densu, Pra and Ankobrah rivers have been choked with sand and gravel due to galamsey activities, hence, the exercise to complement government intervention in other areas of development, like the provision of roads and schools.
According to him, his gesture is a matter of concern to build a better community and improve the lots of his people who are rather accusing him of complicity in illegal mining.
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