Danger: Illegal miners dig holes under houses

Fear has gripped residents of Akyem Agyapomaa, a farming community in the East Akyem Municipality of the Eastern region, as underground holes dug rampantly beneath buildings by illegal miners are set to collapse their houses.

Residents are, therefore, appealing to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Disaster Management Organization to take immediate steps to arrest disaster waiting the community.

This was made known when the DAILY HERITAGE visited the community. During the visit, it emerged that almost half of the community is hanging on the surface of the land since the illegal miners have created very narrow holes underground their entire buildings.

Residents fear that victims who get trapped by the open holes created in the heart of the community could increase if nothing is done.

They also say underground blasting carried out by the illegal miners without adherence to safety measures has led to damage and cracks on their buildings.

The activities of the illegal miners are being done with impunity despite consistent complaints from the residents.

The residents accused the traditional authorities of having a hand in the illegal mining activities in the town, adding that the illegal miners are not residents of the community, but were brought to the town by the chiefs.

Nana Frimpomaa, Chief of the Agyapomaa community told the DAILY HERITAGE she has no hand in the illegal mining activities going on in the town; however, she alleged that her Mponuahene and Sanahene are those involved in the illegal mining activities.

She said efforts made to sack the illegal miners from the community have proven futile. Attempts made by the reporter to speak to the two sub-chiefs named in the galamsey activities failed since telephone numbers provided were out of coverage area.