In a smart move to combat illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, in the Western region, Joseph Agyekum, has directed that all excavators in the District be tracked and registered with the Assembly.
The move is aimed at curbing the rampant use of excavators in illegal mining activities in the District.
The directive was issued after a meeting held with the Divisional Police commander in the area. This is the maiden meeting of the DCE since he was confirmed last week after securing 100 percent endorsement from the Assembly members.
The Police Command is expected to spearhead the implementation of these directives with assistance from the staff of the assembly.
According to the DCE, registration forms and unique identification stickers would be issued to owners of the excavators.
That aside, the assembly, in order to prevent influx of excavators into the District, would mount barriers at Ankobra and Salma, the main entry points into the district.
The exercise is in line with President John Mahama and the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi’s vision and mission to regulate the use of excavators and prevent their involvement in illegal mining activities.
The directive is expected to promote responsible mining practices and support environmental conservation in the district. This task is scheduled to commence from Monday, May 12, 2025.
The measures also forms part of the District Chief Executive’s broader goals and strategies to reverse the tide of illegal mining menace that plunged the district into mess in the past.
In a related development, the Ellembelle DCE and some staff of the Assembly have inspected ongoing reshaping of roads in the northern part of the District.
The project, which was started two months ago was an initiative of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area who is also the minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.
The cost of the reshaping project is fully funded by the MP, and the beneficiary communities in which the DCE visited were Santaso, Mandumgbane, Aidoosuazo, Shell, Kwesikrom and Ewereko.
Speaking to members of beneficiary communities, DCE Joseph Agyekum assured them that the road rehabilitation would be a continuous programme.
