The Nzema East Municipal Security Council Taskforce led by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon Herbert Kuah Dickson on Saturday raided some illegal mining sites mainly to clamp down on some galamsey activities being carried out in some parts of the Municipality.
The joint operations, which was carried out last week and was solely sponsored by the Municipal Assembly, were made up of the Axim Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service, National Investigation Bureau (NIB), and the Blue Water Guard team.
The targeted areas include Akango, Abelebo, and Duale, which is along the River Ankobra.
The successful operations led to the arrest of 20 illegal miners who were mining without the legally acquired permits.
Other equipment seized include 6 control boards of excavators, as well as 35 chamfan machines and drege boats and other items were destroyed.
The MCE, Hon Kuah Dickson warned individuals and groups who were involved in the act of engaging in illegality in the area with respect to the destruction of the forest and water bodies to desist from in such acts, since the assembly is ready to clamp down on them at an unannounced period.
He also urged chiefs and opinion leaders of communities who have given out their lands for such acts, especially in the deep forest zones and along river bodies, mainly River Ankobra to refrain from perpetuating and aiding in such devastations.
The Assembly is committed to ensuring water bodies and forest areas are maintained devoid of pollution and destruction by recalcitrant people.