Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Kwanwoma, Mr. Kofi Amanankwah-Manu, has made it clear that he will not intervene on behalf of anyone involved in illegal mining as an MP.

He firmly believes that such actions would undermine the government's efforts to combat the destructive activities of illegal miners, which have adverse effects on the environment and water bodies throughout the country.

Addressing the fourth session of the District Assembly, Mr. Amankawah-Manu issued a stern warning to influential personalities in society, including chiefs, politicians, assembly members, and others, who support illegal mining activities. He urged them to refrain from engaging in such unpatriotic businesses.

As both an MP and the Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Amankawah-Manu emphasized that the law would take its course regardless of the identity or status of those caught destroying the ecosystem through illegal mining activities. The principle of law and order would prevail in dealing with such matters.

“The topmost discourse in the country for years now, has been the activities of illegal miners who are polluting water bodies and plundering our natural resources,” he said.

He said the activities were carried out by some natives with the backing of financiers in poor communities, muddying river bodies and destroying roads, thereby exposing people to many dangers associated with the menace.

The MP lamented the lackadaisical attitudes of security agencies in the district towards the fight against illegal mining and urged them to step up to protect the environment from destruction.

“Do not connive with such unscrupulous people undermining government’s effort to fight the act,” he advised them.

He advised those who want to go into mining to put together a proposal and register with the appropriate bodies so that their activities could be regulated.

According to the MP, he had no authority to release impounded excavators to owners and asked those calling on his office for such help to stop.

On the poor roads in the district, he noted that the government was committed to fixing the roads, adding that some of them had been awarded on contract already.

He urged all contractors working on roads in the district to deliver quality work and avoid delays.

He announced that consultation with stakeholders was ongoing to terminate the contract of the contractor working on the Twedie-Foase stretch due to unsatisfactory work done so far.

Mr. Amankwah-Manu assured the constituents of his commitment to lobby for development projects across the district and urged them to remain calm.