The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, is sad at the involvement of traditional authorities in illegal mining at Kyebi which has considerably destroyed the town’s lush vegetation. He described the situation as “betrayal of the trust of the people” and urged those involved to stop and rather co-operate with the Regional Security Committee (RESEC) to help protect the health and future of their people. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking when he was paid a courtesy call at Koforidua by the headmaster, staff of Abuakwa State College (ABUSCO) and the East Akim Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Kate Agyeman-Badu. The visit was to thank him for the donation of items to the school after fire gutted the boys’ dormitories complex of the school. The items donated included 50 trucks, 50 wooden boxes, 50 mattresses, roofing sheets and second hand clothing. He recalled that it was at the time of the donation that he saw excavators and trenches on the school compound and learnt that some illegal miners were mining on the school compound. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said he felt disappointed at the destruction of ABUSCO, “a school with such a rich history for the people of Akyem Abuakwa and Ghana” and met with the RESEC to address the situation. He noted that so far, the police and the military had managed to seize 11 excavators and 90 pumps and the 14 suspects who were arrested had been put before court. Source: GNA