Wassa-Akropong (W/R), Nov. 7, GNA - Traditional councils in the Western Region have been told to lead the crusade to check the destruction of the environment through activities of illegal miners and chainsaw operators.

Madam Doris Gyapomah Oduro, the District Chief Executive for Wassa Amenfi East, also noted with concern the social consequences that the involvement of children of school-going age in illegal mining "galamsey" could have on the future development of the district.

At the inauguration of the fifth assembly at Wassa-Akropong on Monday, she said more than 50 children, some between the ages of six and 12 years who should have been in school were seen engaged in "galamsey" during a tour of some illegal mining sites in the district. She said the involvement of children in the "galamsey" had become alarming and called for efforts by parents, chiefs, the district assembly and religious organisations to check it.

She mentioned lack of requisite and adequate staff, poor revenue mobilisation as some of the major challenges facing the assembly and said the assembly could not forever depend on the Common Fund and other support from the government to implement its development programmes. Madam Oduro called on the new assembly members to make revenue mobilisation a priority on the assembly's agenda.

Dr Gladys Ashietey, the Deputy Minister of Health, called on the assembly members to serve their people to the best of their abilities. Nana Ntiako Egyire II, Chief of Wassa-Saa, who cautioned assembly members to refrain from dabbling in chieftaincy matters. He also reminded them to be loyal, transparent and accountable to the people they represent.

Mr. Emmanuel Duku, 51, a government appointee to the assembly was elected presiding member of the assembly after a fierce contest with Mr. John Kwesi Appiah-Amponsah the incumbent.

None of them obtained the required two-third of the 42 votes cast after the first and second balloting and when the third balloting was about to begin, Mr. Appiah-Amponsah withdrew from the race.