The Eastern Regional Security Council (RESEC), in collaboration with the security services, last week seized 11 excavators belonging to illegal gold miners in East Akim and Atiwa districts.
Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of Kukurantumi to outdoor Osabarima Boama Darko 11 as the new Kukurantumihene and Adontehene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
He said RESEC took that action to protect water bodies in the region and the lives of thousands of people in the rural areas who depend on rivers as their sources of drinking water.
He said some of the illegal miners were found to have dammed and diverted the Birim River and mining gold in the river bed while others were
using poisonous chemicals to wash the gold dust directly into the river.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said RESEC was not interested in preventing people from making a living but wanted those interested in gold mining to register and operate in an acceptable manner.
He appealed to traditional authorities to desist from giving their consent to illegal mining and also going to pour libation for the
commencement of business of those illegal miners.
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo called on those attempting to politicize the issue to put an end to that adding that no government would allow water bodies to be
poisoned to kill its citizens and destroy the environment for political expediency.
He urged miners who claim to have the necessary documents to come out with them for study by the RESEC for action to be taken.