Mr Samuel Sarpong, Ashanti Regional Minister, has vowed to wage sustained battle against illegal mining.
He said the massive degradation of the environment � destruction of the forest and pollution of water bodies, could not be allowed to continue.
The Regional Security Council (RCC) would go to every length to stop the illegal activity, to protect the vegetation.
Mr Sarpong, who was interacting with a cross- section of the Media in Kumasi, urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), to work closely with the traditional authorities to reduce chieftaincy and land disputes.
They need to focus on efforts on improving security in their areas of jurisdiction and to also encourage active participation of the people in the activities of the assembly.
The programme provided the platform for the Minister to shed light on his development vision for the region.
He underlined his determination to make sure that the Assemblies lived up to expectation, to bring development to the people.
He announced that he would soon undertake a tour of all the districts in the region to interact with the people and gauge their felt needs.
Improvement of education, health and road infrastructure and the provision of water and sanitation facilities would receive priority attention, he added.
It was on the basis of this that a medium-term development plan covering 2014 to 2017 was being prepared for implementation.
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