The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been criticised for supplying electricity to Chinese illegal miners in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has vowed to report the officials of the ECG involved in the illegal connection to the Energy Ministry for the law to deal with them.
"The ECG is supposed to investigate before supplying electricity to any individual or corporate entity and if the purpose for requesting for the power is illegal it could decide not to provide the power," he explained.
Mr Owusu-Bio was interacting with the media when he led a taskforce to Efua Ata Kumponasi, opposite the Tarkwa Senior High School, to arrest 10 Chinese who were illegally mining in an abandoned mining tunnel.
The Deputy Minister said the Ministry would not give up on the fight against galamsey despite the tough time being given by some recalcitrant elements in the industry.
"We know there are some illegal miners who are recalcitrant...therefore we are not also giving up on the fight and the President has expressed deep commitment to this cause," he said.
The Deputy Minister said the Chinese miners' migration status would be investigated and also send them to court for prosecution.
"We know there are people who are saying the court processes delay but we're not in a Kangaroo court so we have to allow the due processes to take place as the axe of justice grinds slowly," he said.
"We all know the Aisha Huan, the Russian and the Ukrainian cases are still in court and so we're sure justice would be served," he noted.
The Chinese were mining in the tunnel with live wires connected along the walls of the tunnel so that anybody who tried to enter the pit would be electrocuted.
They had also installed secret cameras inside the tunnel, which enabled them to monitor activities outside.
The Deputy Minister led the taskforce to the place upon a tip-off, which is 300 meters away from the University of Mines and Technology, where he was taking part in a National Validation Workshop on the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project.
The Minerals and Mining Law does not permit foreigners to engage in small-scale mining.
However, some Ghanaians have secured licences and recruited foreigners to engage in galamsey, which had resulted in unbridled exploitation of the environment, for instance pollution of water bodies and degradation of vegetation and farmlands
Source: GNA
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At times I don't get these talking ministers. What the heck is this minister talking. Why can't you take and action before coming out. Please Mr. Minister, why can't our courts prosecute those Ghanaians who gave out their license to these foreigners. Those guys at ECG, when found to have illegally connection to the side should be sacked and the law take it cause. Ghanaians, our problems is not changing of governments but changing our altitudes. I hates ministers who complain and talk about repeated Ghanaian behaviours without acting. Please let the law take it cause. But to the courts, stop the unnecessary adjournment. The laws of these crimes are clear. Once again ministers stop the usual way of talking without any action.
GOOD POINT THERE1 WHO GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO MINE ON THE LANDS/ WHT HAVENT THE CHIEFS IN THESE AREAS REPORTED THEM TO THE POLICE UNTIL THE MINISTER TOOK ACTION? HAVING SAID THIS, I HOPE THIS EXERCISE DOES NOT TURN OUT TO BE A NINE DAY WONDER1 KUDUS NPP1 YOU HAVE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE AT HEART!
They have giving electricity to the illegal miners and its wrong. What are u doing to the people who sell their lands to these illegal miners??. Be it chiefs or what ever must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent. Bcos these Chinese dont own lands in Ghana.