Jones Adu-Koranteng, Wassa Amenfi District Coordinating Director, has warned that the assembly would arrest and prosecute anyone who is found prospecting for gold illegally in the district.

He said although the assembly started the exercise last year it was halted, but the process would resume.

Mr Adu-Koranteng gave the warning when the Coalition of non-governmental organisation in water and sanitation in collaboration with Water Research Institute (WRI), organised a sensitisation training workshop for stakeholders in the district on the impact of small scale mining operations.

He noted that galamsey operators (illegal miners) are mining haphazardly in the district. Presenting a research finding on the impact of small scale mining activities on water quality in communities in the district, the Principal Research Scientist of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research h (CSIR)-WRI, Dr Osmund Ansa-Asare explained that the activities of illegal miners is threatening the health of the citizens.

He said results from studies carried out by the CSIR on the Hiawa River which is a tributary to the Ankobra River at Wassa Akropong and mainly used by the citizens of the town for drinking and other domestic purposes recorded very high levels in colour, turbidity and total suspended solids.

Dr Ansa-Asare said the levels recorded were far above the World Health Organisation recommended levels.

“The heavy metals used by galamsey operators such as mercury for gold refinery adversely affect water quality when abstracted downstream for drinking purposes by citizens,” He said.

He said several lands have been degraded because of the illegal mining activities, stressing that this has deprived the people whose livelihood depend on land.

Dr Ansa-Asare emphasised that the research undertaken by the WRI provides ample evidence of the level of contamination of water consumed by citizen in the Wassa Akropong area.

He said making findings of the research public to generate discussion to get the relevant state agencies to address the problem is what motivated WRI to collaborate with SEND Ghana, an NGO to implement the project title: “Deepening linkage between research, advocacy and media in Ghana for greater policy influence and impact”.

The study recommended that the Water Resource Commission and Environment Protection Agency should take bold steps in protecting water bodies.

The Minerals Commission, Ghana Police Service, Attorney Generals Department and the District Assembly should enforce the relevant provisions in the criminal code and mineral mining act, act 703.

Mr Anthony Kwame Darko, a participant at the workshop, said an NGO he is heading has been able to assist the people of Wassa Saaman, Wantram and Grumisah to prevent the illegal miners form operating on their land.

He said the organisation would extend its operations to the affected communities on how to deal with the miners.