Elder Osei Kwabena Owusu has appealed to the Ahafo Ano South East District Assembly to call Hon. Evans Antwi Agyei, assembly member for Betinko, to order and also discourage illegal mining activities in the community.
Elder Owusu, who is a proprietor of a local sawmill, the only source of employment for the youth, claims the Assembly member for Betinko Electoral area has called for the closure of the sawmill.
The Assemblyman is said to be backing one David Agyemang alias Obenefo Sarfo, who identifies himself as Odikro in illegal mining activities in the area.
Elder Owusu, who raised concerns at a press conference, conscientised the members of the community to resist illegal mining activities in the area, because it would severely degrade the livelihood of the residents of the community.
He warned the residents that illegal mining will contribute to the destruction of agricultural land and pollution of water bodies with toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide and, therefore, threaten food security, endanger public health through heavy metal poisoning, and drive social instability, including school dropouts and increased crime rates.
Elder Owusu also mentioned uncovered mining pits as dangerous death traps for livestock and humans, which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes as a danger of illegal mining.
He said Poor sanitation due to degradation of the environment will compromise drinking water sources and lead to outbreak of diseases of typhoid, cholera, and skin infections.
Elder Owusu has, therefore, called on the Ahafo Ano South East District Assembly to sanction the Assemblyman.
He also called on authorities that matter in the fight against galamsey to stop the self-acclaimed Odikro, the assemblyman and perpetrators of the menace in their tracks.
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