The Ahanta West Municipal Security Council, in collaboration with the Western Regional Security Council, has initiated a rigorous investigation focused on illegal mining in the Boukrom area.
The operation was led by the Municipal Chief Executive, Ing. Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo.
The investigation will scrutinize the activities of the Chief of Boukrom, Nana Brekunta, alongside the ongoing illegal mining that has severely impacted local farmland and the environment.
Boukrom, located within the Ahanta West Municipality, has recently experienced a surge in illegal mining activities. These activities have not only devastated local farmland but also posed a significant threat to the residents living nearby.
The investigation follows weeks of surveillance conducted by the Blue Water guards and National Security, which identified numerous illegal mining sites in the area.
In response to gathered intelligence, a collaborative task force comprising members from the Western Naval Command, National Security, and municipal Blue Water guards executed a major operation in Boukrom.
The operation successfully recovered one excavator, seventeen water pump machines, and the control board of a second excavator, in addition to apprehending two suspects.
In an interview, Ing. Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo remarked that the two-pronged investigation is crucial to combating the illegal mining threat.
“We are also investigating the site, looking for the site owners and the chief of Boukrom, Nana Brekunta. We know that he has been fueling and enabling these illegal miners. They are intimidating the community with pump-action guns and ‘macho men.’ As the municipal chief executive, I will ensure that Ahanta West becomes a no-go area for illegal mining”, he said.
He further announced that individuals arrested for illegal mining would be required to rehabilitate the damaged land before facing legal action.
Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd.), the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, emphasized the sustained effort against illegal mining.
“We need to gather complaints from other villages and maintain our focus on protecting water bodies and forest reserves. I commend the Western Naval Command for its excellent work; it will contribute to our overarching goals,” he said
This response comes amid troubling reports of a resurgence in illegal mining throughout several communities in the region.
Reporting by Isaac Hughes in the Western Region
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