By: Julius Konton
The Ministry of Mines and Energy, has with immediate effect, issued a closure order, halting all mining operations in Dougbo City, Grand Kru County.
The decision came after a compliance team dispatched to the area confirmed massive illicit mining activities in the middle of the city.
The latest closure order in Duogbo City, Grand Kru County by the Mines and Energy Ministry marks the second time the Ministry has taken such action, after the previous one issued early this year was ignored.
To aid the work of State Security agencies in watching over the latest halt to mining activities in Duogbo City, the Mayor, Augustine K. Negba, and the youth Vice President, Folley Odaba, attested to the closure order.
Among other things, the action by the Mines and Energy Ministry is intended to protect the environment, ensure full adherence to the Minerals and Mining Law, and the Exploration Regulations, and hold unscrupulous individuals fully accountable for wanton acts of violations punishable by law.
According to findings from a compliance enforcement team led by Chief Mining Engineer, James Smith, the massive illicit mining operations in Duogbo City are causing severe land disturbance with large pits excavated by heavy earth moving machines.
The compliance team’s repor further states that the estimated depths of pits dug by the illicit miners are 27, and 24 meters at different end-points.
“Continued mining poses a serious threat to local infrastructure. It could undermine the foundations of houses and the main road leading to Barclayville City, Grand Kru County,” the Mines and Energy Ministry’s compliance enforcement team’s report revealed.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy further revealed that local government authorities are alledgelly conniving with the illicit miners in Duogbo City, Grand Kru County, to exploit their own community.
While the Ministry remains firm in enforcing compliance in the mining sector, the Ministry calls on all residents of communities to discourage attempts by il-fated individuals to set up illegal mining installations in their areas, usually through gifts and financial inducement.
