Illegal miners recently arrested in the Mpohor District was a sham, a cover-up for the DCE Ignatius Asaah Mensah, and NPP party leaders in the district, the Wassa Youth Forum has alleged.

The group said stopping illegal mining has become a herculean task due to the continuous involvement of some political and traditional leaders in the Mpohor district.

" It is not a surprise how many people closer to political and traditional leaders will work against the menace. Galamsey is still happening in the Mpohor district", the Forum lamented.

The Forum questioned how leaders who are actually involved in this illegal activity can show commitment to ending it, causing environmental degradation and loss of lives.

The group observed that the "Operation Vanguard" team are normally called upon to act whenever local Npp leaders want a cover to showcase that they are indeed working hard to stop the menace.

"We are aware of how this cover-up is done to conceal their unpardonable involvement in this treacherous work of illegality ", the Wassa Forum explained and called on the government to allow the courts to punish the culprits.

"The recent arrest by the operation vanguard taskforce in Mpohor district on 30th July 2019, is not different from previous operations that ended up in a fiasco, and the illegal miners returned to duty ".

The Forum said illegal miners continue to make the claim that the Mpohor DCE has registered them for a fee of 30gh each and that the BNI must let the people know about the outcome of investigations ".

The Wassa Forum also stated that when the authorities in the Mpohor District Assembly(MDA) were questioned, the explanation given was that, the NPP constituency executives needed money to run the party and that explains why 30gh was collected from each illegal miner, an act which in itself was illegal.

" The NPP constituency secretariat had explained that nothing of that sort happened and that nobody can use the great NPP for his or her selfish gains. But we respectfully call on the national security to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves and investigate", the Forum pleaded.

"Some galamseyers have accused the DCE and some NPP leaders in the district for extortion, and it is important all these matters are investigated to punish those sabotaging government's efforts, the group stated.

"The river Buture which serves both Mpohor and Ahanta West constituencies is gradually losing its relevance for domestic water usage as pollution goes on unchecked", the Forum added.

As a matter of urgency, the government needs to act to save
innocent people whose lives are being sacrificed every day to satisfy selfish interests", the Forum concluded.