Activities of illegal miners on a plot near the Asare Bediako Senior High School are reported to be depriving students and teachers a serene learning and working environment in Akrokeri situated in the Adansi North district.Reports indicated that on several occasions students have had to run out of their classrooms in fear, as a result of the deafening noise coming from explosives used by the illegal miners to crack the earth for precious minerals.According to Time Fm reporter, Isaac Normanyo, the miners plant the explosives in the stones deep in the ground at various points and after a few minutes they begin blasting the brim stones in the ground producing very loud noise.The students get startled and when lessons are ongoing making them lose focus and ran to seek refuge. One of the female pupils told Adom Fm she experienced “a forced menstruation” at one point when the explosives went off.Headmaster of the school, Mr. C.K. Nuako said he was prepared to close down the school so that students find other institutions elsewhere because his efforts to get them to stop their activities have been in vain.“Parents have started withdrawing their wards because of the problem. I am prepared to close the school so the children find other institutions elsewhere if the authorities sit and do nothing about it” he stated.The menace does not only affect students and teachers but traders aw well, who have to stop selling and hide their wares at a safe place anytime explosives are about to go off so that they are not affected.They are not supposed to question the authorities or workers on the mine otherwise they will forfeit their trading space or wares which is the main source of income for their families.Reacting to problem, the Obuasi Police Command accused the district assembly of being part of the problem because they collect taxes from these people which is not helping them curb the situation. “We are still investigating the issue so that the law can be applied and culprits brought to book,” ASP Berchi added.Meanwhile, District Chief Executive of the area, Alhaji Latif Majoud claimed he was not aware of the illegal mining until it was reported to him recently. He also denied reports that the assembly had been demanding taxes from the miners.“It is not true that we are collecting taxes from the galamsey operators, even if the headmaster of the school had not prompted me, I wouldn’t have known. However, we are finding a way out” the DCE said.