Deputy Lands Minister halts illegal stone quarrying , orders demolition of illegal structures at earthquake-prone areas

Hon. George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has halted all illegal stone quarry activities at Oblogo in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region and has issued a directive to the Municipal Assembly to immediate demolish all illegal structured.

The Deputy Minister during a working visit to the site on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, expressed disappointment and concern over illegal developments at the place.

He said it has become necessary for the Ministry to take decisive, pragmatic and proactive steps to avert ‘a reoccurrence of Appiatse”.

It is on record that the Ministry nor the Minerals Commission has not processed any application or granted any legal mineral license for quarry operations in the area.

According to him, the area has been declared as an earth-quake prone zone and certain activities shouldn’t take place in those areas including quarry and sand winning activities.

He emphasized that data from the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) suggest that any form of human activities at the place can trigger landslides or manslide which has the potential to cause damage to lives and property consequently the Ministry is proposing to embark on a demolition of the illegal structures.

“It is important to caution residents here to move since in the event of an earthquake, the consequences will be catastrophic If it happens, government will be blamed“, he advised.

“We are going to pull down these buildings because we would not allow another Appiatse to happen in this area,“

Hon. Mireku Duker also ordered the arrest of three artisans who were busily erecting a structure and were handed over to the police for statements to be taken.

The tour by the Hon. Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources followed a presentation by the GGSA on the dangers associated with the place forth-night ago on the geo hazards associated with the place.

In a meeting earlier this year, the GGSA warned that the country could be in for another disaster if drastic measures were not taken to guard the place and protect it from encroachment.

Source :PR UNIT MLNR /Johnawuniktv@gmail.com