Despite a demonstration by galamsey operators in Elmina against moves to flush them out, the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission insists their activities are illegal and therefore they must leave the place.

The commission is sending a 15-member taskforce to arrest illegal miners in the town which has attracted media attention in recent times.

The taskforce, which is made up of members of the sand and stone winnings association, Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission, and the National Security, is heading to the area to arrest and prosecute miners and protect the Elmina beach.

This past week, both men women and children have been swarming the shores of Elmina, digging pits in search of gold which was said to have been washed ashore the Elmina beach.

Despite a directive by the Minerals Commission ordering them to stop the illegal act, the numbers are rather growing by the day.

At a press conference to inaugurate the taskforce in Accra yesterday, Stephen Piedu, Chief Inspector of Mines at the Commission said, “The taskforce will be mandated to also deal with illegal sand and stone winners, which falls under the Industrial Mineral Sector under the Minerals Commission.”

He said there was a ban on sand wining along the beaches, therefore the local people at Elmina who were digging sand in the name of searching for gold should desist from the practice.

Mr. Piedu added that Act 703 establishing the Minerals Commission stated that “Every mineral in its natural state in, under or upon land in Ghana, rivers, streams, water-courses throughout the country, the exclusive economic zone and an area covered by the territorial sea or continental shelf is the property of the Republic and is vested in the President in trust for the people of Ghana.”

He indicated that the taskforce would later move to areas where illegal sand and stone mining was very prevalent and arrest all illegal sand winners.

Frank Ashidam, national chairman of the taskforce, stated that they would not rest until they totally eradicated illegal mining or reduce it.