The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has directed illegal miners occupying sections of land in the border community of Sapelliga to remove their equipment and vacate the premises.
The expansive land at Sapelliga, a border community in the Upper West Region, has been overrun by illegal miners from both Ghana and Burkina Faso, engaging in galamsey activities without any intervention from state authorities.
Head of the Upper East REGSEC and Regional Minister, Hafiz Bin Saleh, issued the order for the illegal miners to withdraw, highlighting the environmental destruction and the damage to significant boundary markers.
“Please, if you want to continue operating here, do the right thing. We are going to contact the Minerals Commission so that they make this place available to prospective miners so that you would be licensed and then we give you the opportunity to operate.
“But what you are doing currently is unacceptable, it’s highly unacceptable. This is the last time that we are coming here, and this is a stern warning from the Regional Security Council, so take note and begin to pack your tools.”
The Ghana Boundary Commission, which supported REGSEC’s efforts, stated their goal was to curb the activities of the illegal miners.
The Commissioner General of the Commission, Major General Emmanuel Kotia, noted that the illegal miners’ actions continue to tamper with Ghana’s boundary markers with Burkina Faso.
He emphasized that this could lead to disputes between the two countries if the boundaries are not clearly defined.
“There were a lot of interferences so far as our boundary line is concerned. Some of these activities led to the removal of international boundary pillars and for that matter, there was no clarity so far as the markings of the boundary is concerned.
“And then, because we have quite a sizeable number of people coming from Burkina Faso to do a lot of illegal activities here, if we don’t take care, while these boundary pillars are removed, some of our territories can be taken or probably can be declared as part of Burkina Faso because these markings are not visible on the ground,” he said.
Major General Emmanuel Kotia highlighted his team’s decision to support the construction of patrol routes, which will serve to mark the international boundary pillars.
He explained that their facilitation of REGSEC’s involvement was intended to help them better understand the situation on the ground.
“REGSEC plays a very key role so far as the territory sovereignty of the country is concerned, especially regions that have boundaries with our neighbours. So we work in collaboration with REGSECS to ensure that our boundaries are secure.”
Additionally, Regional Minister Hafiz Bin Saleh pointed out that besides the environmental degradation caused by the miners, terrorists from neighboring Burkina Faso could exploit the situation to fund their nefarious activities.
“In Burkina Faso, there are insurgents there and there are terrorists who want to infiltrate into our country and to be able to perpetuate what they are doing, they need finance so they engage in what you people are doing.
“In order to save the people of this country, we want to stop issues of this nature so that people don’t have means of funding nefarious activities,” he said.
He noted that Ghana is currently enjoying peace and emphasized that Ghanaians should appreciate the tranquility they are experiencing.
“We will not allow the interest of any individual or any group of persons to affect the peace that the country is enjoying.”