Kyebi (E/R), Sept. 28, GNA - Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, the Eastern Regional Minster, has vowed to end the illegal diamond and gold mining activities, popularly called galamsey, in the region.

He said his outfit is collaborating with the security forces in the region to fight the practice adding that 93the menace needs firm action an= d we are going to ensure that the situation reaches a satisfactory conclusion= .. We cannot sit idle and look at our rich natural resources being destroyed i= n such a manner".

Dr Apea-Kubi said this at Kyebi when he paid a courtesy call on the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panyin, on Wednesday. He said he was concerned with the way the galamsey activities were destroying the forest reserves, the land and the water resources of the region adding that if that situation persisted, generations would suffer fo= r it.

Dr Apea-Kubi said security personnel would soon be dispatched to suspected galamsey sites to mount attacks on them. Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori-Panyin lauded the Minister's intended actions and called on all stakeholders and the people of Akyem-Abuakwa to rally behind him to put an end to the menace in the area. He also called on government to strengthen the decentralization proces= s in the country adding that 93if we do not decentralize the country, we can never see our own potentials. That is why I support the idea of electing ou= r Municipal and District Chief Executives so that they can be accountable to the indigenes in the society." He dismissed as untrue the rumour that he was personally involved in the galamsey activities in the area.