The Western North Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), in collaboration with the Regional Security Council, has formed a special taskforce to combat illegal mining in the region.

The special joint Anti-Galamsey Taskforce comprised the Regional Police Command, Immigration Service, the Military, National Investigation Bureau, National Security and the Regional Fire Service.

Addressing journalists, Mr Richard Ebbah Obeng, the Western North Regional Minister, said the move was to augment the operations of “Calm life” to fight illegal mining in the region.

He said the taskforce had been mandated to wage a sustained war against illegal mining, which he said was fast gaining notoriety in the region.

“The President’s directive to us as Regional Ministers to ensure that illegal mining becomes an unattractive venture remained a top priority on my agenda.

It is, therefore, in the light of this that I have tasked the members of the taskforce to carry out their mandate without any fear so that we protect our lands and water bodies for generations yet unborn,” the Minister said.

He announced that the taskforce had so far impounded four excavators from the Asempaneye enclave in the Juaboso District and parked at the RCC.

He pointed out that the RCC was ready and would do everything to support any individual or organisation who wanted to do proper and responsible mining and asked interested persons to seek information from the RCC.

The Regional Minister, therefore, directed the Municipal and District Chief Executive to cooperate with the taskforce to ensure illegal mining was halted in the region.

Mr Obeng cautioned that REGSEC and the taskforce would arrest and repatriate any foreigner involved in illegal mining.