Following recent media reports on some ongoing illegal mining activities at the Bortianor Hills in the Greater Accra Region, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, on Thursday, 5 May 2022, engaged the Ghana Geological Survey Authority and the Minerals Commission to obtain first-hand information and get a complete understanding of the issue.

The meeting, which was convened at the behest of Mr Duker, was to enable him to apprise himself of the encroachment situation and the danger it poses to the residents of the area.

The Head of Seismology at the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) stated that the area is not earmarked for human settlement.

In his expert opinion, he said the area is “an endangered hill which is a hazard” and should not have any human activity taking place there.

He said the development activities ongoing in the hilly area have rendered the place risky to human lives.

In information available to the GGSA, he noted, indicates that not only is the place dangerous and exposed to erosion but also harbours earthquake fault-lines.

He said building and sand winning activities have compounded the dangerous situation in the area.

The Mineral Commission explained that it has not sanctioned any concession for sand-winning and quarrying in the area.

It stated that over the years, it has undertaken task force operations in the area to curtail the situation.

The latest of such operations was on 10 March 2022, where items belonging to the illegal quarriers were seized.

Mr Mireku Duker disclosed his intention to storm the place with a joint task force made up of police and military personnel to stop the dangerous activities there.

He said the ministry will engage the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey on that front.

Mr Duker demanded a comprehensive report on the hazards associated with developing the place and said the ministry will take the appropriate measures to deal with it accordingly.