Sinoe County Senator Crayton O. Duncan has raised concerns over water pollution and soil degradation by gold miners in the county. In a communication to Plenary on Thursday, February 20, 2025, Senator Duncan requested the body to invite the Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to explain measures put in place against water pollution and soil degradation by the gold miners.
Senator Duncan said during a recent visit in the county’s three electoral districts, he noticed that the illicit activities of local gold miners are detrimental to the livelihood of the local communities.
He said nearly every stream, creek and river have been damaged or polluted as well as huge land degradation which has threatened their forest land and its biodiversity.
He said the EPA is the regulatory, technical and enforcement arm of the government which is supposed to conduct environmental surveillance and correct unregulated mining activities.
“I request that Plenary invite the Executive Director to unfold the Agency’s role in the current massive irregular mining that destroys our water and landscape, and to also inform Plenary as to its remedy on these negative impacts on our citizens,” he said.
A motion was filed by Senator Numene T.H Bartekwa that the Executive Director of EPA appears on February 25, 2025 before the Committee on Lands, Mines and Energy along with the Committee on Carbon Hydrogen and Environment.
