General News of Friday, 3 July 2009

Source: GNA

Foreign nationals illegally prospecting for gold in Ghana- WACAM

Accra, July 3, GNA -The Wassa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has appealed to the government to investigate allegations about illegal prospecting of minerals by foreign nationals in the country. Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Director of WACAM, told the Ghana News Agency

on Friday that reports reaching his office alleged that some Chinese nationals are prospecting for gold at Wasa Adansi, Wassa Samang, Wassa Konkonso, Wassa Dekoto in the Wassa Amenfi East District Assembly. He alleged that the prospectors do not have mining rights and should be held responsible for any destruction they cause to cocoa farms, social amenities and the pollution of river bodies like the Ankobrah, which posed a great threat to economic growth. Mr Owusu-Koranteng appealed to traditional rulers to report such illegal operations to the law enforcement authorities.