The task force of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Akwatia Zone, has arrested three illegal miners at Akyem Okyinso, a suburb of Akyem Asuom, located along the Birim River in the municipality of Kwaebibirem, in the eastern region.

During a joint operation with police to crack down on illegal mining activities and restore the Birim River to its natural state, the task force also destroyed eight Changfan machines and seized several pieces of mining equipment.

According to a report by adomonline.com, the culprits have been taken into custody at the Akyem Asuom Police Station, where they are expected to be arraigned in court. Their mining equipment was handed over to police to assist in their investigation.

Susan Danquah Tete, Eastern Regional Women Coordinator of the Small-Scale Mining Association, who led the operation, said the activities of illegal miners led to pollution of water bodies and destruction of several cocoa and oil palm plantations.

She further noted that illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, have negatively impacted the operations of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the region.

JKB/OGB

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