The Minerals Commission has, in an investigative report, concluded that alleged illegal mining activities could have had only a minimal impact on the official residence of a Magistrate at the Nkroful District Court.

“Additionally, the official residence is on a higher altitude than the illegal mining sites. Effect of illegal mining, if any at all, on the residence would be minimal”, the report stated.

On July 14, 2022, the Western Regional Judicial Service wrote to the Ellembelle District Chief Executive informing him of the decision of the Magistrate to relocate from her bungalow due to illegal mining activities said to constitute a threat to her safety, security and health."

The letter stressed that the noise emanating from the Galamsey activities at night deprived the Magistrate of the “needed sleep” which is having an impact on her health.

The Western Region office of the Minerals Commission took up the matter and commenced investigations. It interviewed Kwasi Bonzoh, DCE for Ellembelle, Emil Tawiah Atsu, District Coordinating Director, ACP Hlordzi Godact Dodzi Divisional Police Commander and Assemblyman for the area Hemans Blay.

The Commission found that illegal mining activities occurred in a nearby river, Broma River and its embankments from late 2020 to early 2021 and recently to early June 2022.

This river, the commission notes flows behind the building serving as the official residence of the Divisional Commander and District Magistrate. It noted that several arrests were made by the DCE in an effort to deal with the matter.

The mining activities halted but resumed in April 2022. The Assembly is said to have once again taken steps to halt the mining once again. The Commission says it found no mining equipment within the enclave when it visited.

“From GPS readings taken, it was observed that both the 2021 and 2022 operations were more than 130m away from the official residence of the District Magistrate and the Divisional Commander. The official residence is located at a higher altitude (28m) than the illegal mining sites (10m).

It is recommending that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources includes the area in the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project to help reclaim the area and desilt the Broma River.

The Assembly is to collaborate with the Judiciary and the Ghana Police to clamp down on illegal mining activities.