Traditional authorities in the Atiwa Area of the Eastern Region are backing calls by the District Assembly to flush out illegal miners who they say are polluting the Birim River. The miners use Chinese technology known as Champhi to extract and wash minerals directly into the river. As a result communities along the banks whose main source of drinking water is the Birim River are unable to use the water. The unidentified source of a dyeing matter that gives the water a red colouring perhaps is enough to warn residents of its polluted state now. Last week, the Atiwa District Assembly appealed for National Security assistance to flush out the miners. Akoboaso is one of the communities which attracted galamsey operators. Many farms in the area have all been lost to the armed perpetrators who carry out their activities mostly at night. The traditional council has already served notice it will organize the youth in the area to drive away the illegal miners from its land at Mourso, Akrofufu, Asamama as well as Abomosu. The people can carry through their threat only after securing a permit from the District Police Command. Queen-mother of Akoboaso, Nana Boatemaaa I, has told Nhyira News all previous attempts to eject the illegal miners have been unsuccessful. Members of the local Unit Committee have been under threat of reprisals from the armed miners in case the community attacks them. The people are however determined to reclaim their land with the involvement of the entire community. It is said the miners are always armed even when they are in the river and anyone confronting them risk harm. Nana Boatemaaa recounted how previous attempts by the community to flush out the illegal miners were met with resistance from the latter. She recalled when the Unit Committee members initiated moves to evict the miners, the miners threatened to attack them. Some residents, especially women, allege they have also received threats of rape from the dreaded ‘galamseyers’ for either demanding compensation or complaining about the destruction. One of them, Madam Akosua Antwiaah, a linguist of Akoboasohemaa, who says she once escaped attack, said farmers in the area feel insecure. She claimed to have seen them in her mother’s farm and confronted them. But the Champhi miners threatened her and but for her age, they would have raped her. She had to run home. Meanwhile, District Chief Executive, Emmanuel Atta Twum, confirmed Madam Antwiwaa’s fears, with an appeal to National Security. He says the presence of the miners undermines security in the area, explaining that there is extreme devastation by the Champhi miners all over the place especially at the river banks.