The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Juaben, Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu, has accused some police officers within the Konongo and Bekwai Police Divisions of allegedly supporting illegal mining operators in the municipality.
According to her, the overlapping jurisdictions of the Konongo, Bekwai, and Juaben Police Divisions have created challenges for the assembly in its efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities.
Speaking to the media during an operation, she alleged that some officers’ interventions during anti-illegal mining operations have encouraged miners to continue their activities despite efforts by the assembly to stop them.
She said the situation would have been different if the Juaben Municipality had full control over security operations within its jurisdiction.
“We came for an operation against the illegal miners. It has been a headache for me because we are always coming around to address the issue. The challenge is that, in terms of police jurisdiction, we fall under Konongo and Bekwai.
When we come around to stop them, the police from Konongo and Bekwai will ask them to continue their activities,” she said.
The MCE added that attempts to get illegal miners to reclaim degraded lands have often been unsuccessful because some operators do not recognise the authority of the municipal assembly.
“When you invite them to come and show them how to reclaim the land, they will not come because they believe they fall under Konongo or Bekwai,” she added.
Meanwhile, the National Security Secretariat in the Ashanti Region has imposed a month-long ban on all mining activities and the movement of excavators within the Juaben Municipality as part of efforts to combat illegal mining and reclaim degraded lands.
