Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa has cautioned chiefs and individuals allegedly supporting illegal mining in parts of the region to stop or face the law.

He said illegal mining had destroyed the environment in the affected areas and praised the security agencies for their role in fighting the menace.

He revealed that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had carried out two operations against illegal mining at Branam in the Wenchi Municipality and in some Banda District communities, including Serigbo, Nipanikro, and Bandaboase.

The operations led to the seizure of 11 excavators and 31 motorbikes, with the arrest of fifteen Chinese nationals who were arraigned before the court and have since been repatriated to their home country.

He warned that “no one, irrespective of the background or status, will be spared if caught in the net”. He said the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Security (NAIMOS) Taskforce had begun its work and would extend its operations to other areas in the region and close down all illegal sites.

“If you won’t stop, we shall stop it for you,” he said, with the assurance that the REGSEC would continue to work to clear the region of illegal miners.

Mr Akwaboa gave the warning at the inauguration of the reconstituted Bono Regional Coordinating Council in Sunyani.

The Council includes Municipal and District Chief Executives, Presiding Members, representatives of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Heads of Departments and Agencies, and the Regional Coordinating Director, as required by the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

The Regional Minister urged the Chief Executives to focus on the development of the region in line with the government’s reset agenda.

The Banda District Chief Executive, Mr Peter Dongi, appealed to traditional leaders to support the fight against illegal mining, saying they are the custodians of the land and must help protect it.

The Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, observed that the security situation in the region has generally remained calm and peaceful, though there were sporadic “incidents of armed robbery cases, theft, rape, defilement, drug abuse and drug peddling, and other misdemeanor” which he said were ably handled by the Police and the other Security Agencies.

He said peace and security of the Region are paramount, hence the need to maintain it at all costs for the good of the citizenry.

He, however, expressed concern with the chieftaincy disputes in the region, especially in Sampa in the Jaman North District, which has been a bane to the socio-economic development of the region.  

“Whilst REGSEC and the various MUSECs and DISECs are diligently working to maintain peace and security in Sampa and other areas, I wish to urge the Regional House of Chiefs to expedite action to resolve chieftaincy disputes pending before the Judicial Committee of the House”, he said.