The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai Joseph Osei Owusu is calling for harsher sanctions against illegal miners, arguing that their actions harm entire communities and livelihoods.
He emphasized that those who undermine the well-being of others should not be treated leniently under the guise of natural justice.
Mr Owusu highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal mining, stating that it not only threatens water bodies but also restricts access to farmland for many residents.
He shared a poignant encounter in Aduama, where an elderly woman expressed her inability to farm due to the expansion of a river caused by illegal mining activities.
According to him, if one does a thorough analysis of the activities of illegal miners, one would appreciate or come to the understanding that the search for money by some few people is done much to the detriment of communities, thereby, denying hundreds or thousands or in extreme cases millions of their livelihoods.
Illegal mining, he said, should not be entertained at all in the country, preferring stiffer punishment for those who engage in such acts to serve as deterrent to others.
Joseph Osei Owusu commenting further noted that the country cannot sit down for livelihoods to be destroyed at the expense of few people who want to make money by destroying water bodies.
“In one of the communities called Aduama, I was going on a community visit when I met an old lady.
She told me they have expanded the river and I cannot go to my farm. So, I got interest and walked to them.
He cautioned Members to be careful not to appear to be loyal to few people who are destroying the country’s water bodies, farms, among many others that are affecting lives of the rural folks.
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Osei Owusu has reaffirmed his statement that illegal miners, especially those mining on water bodies, should be shòt and k!lled.
"The best way is to use snipers." pic.twitter.com/51kzK3vbi0
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) October 11, 2024
