<<Print>>

If appropriate measures are not taken early to save the Birim River, which is a source of water supply to many Ghanaians living along the banks, from being polluted by some selfish and greedy miners, the river would be dead, thereby denying millions of people access to drinking water. A visit to Bunso in the Eastern Region by The Daily Democrat where the Birim River passes, revealed that mining activities carried out along and inside the river has changed the colour of the river to the extent that it is impossible for people to drink from it as it used to be. Speaking to this paper, some residents of the town expressed their worry over the situation, saying they do not believe that some high ranking personalities including the Okyehene, the Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive would look on unconcerned as such unscrupulous, selfish and greedy miners pollute the drinking water serving millions of people. Some of the disturbed persons this paper spoke to, wondered why Okyehene who is the landlord of the area has not called on the police to arrest all those who through their activities are denying the people of their survival and that of the Birim River. Investigations conducted by this paper indicated that it is only impossible for the residents living along the river banks to drink from the river or bath with it but it can lead to their death because of the cyanide the miners are allegedly using to mine. The Daily Democrat also was hinted that the pollution of the river was not only done by the illegal miners, popularly known as galamsey operators, but also other registered miners operating in the area also contribute to it. Even though the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Payin II, known to be campaigning against the destruction of the environment, has waged war against the illegal miners still, these selfish� greedy busters� have refused to listen to the wisdom of the wise king. From a careful observation, the only way forward to the problem could be that, both the Military and the Police should mount a search for the unscrupulous miners, arrest them and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others. If the authority refuses to take any hard decision against these ill informed miners, the people in the area are like to take the law into their own hands.