IPNews-ZWEDRU: The County Attorney of Grand Gedeh has ordered the Joint Security detachment to remain vigilant and arrest any person or group involved in dredging in creeks and rivers in search for gold or other minerals.

Atty. Isaac Williams stated that the seven arrested are already being prosecuted on charges of engaging in ‘illegal mining’ in that part of the country; but are currently on bail pending the commencement of the trial by the judiciary.

Their dredges were confiscated and would be presented in court as evidence in favor of the State, the government lawyer indicated.

Frustrated over the alleged illegal mining expedition by persons he described as unscrupulous, Atty. Williams hoped their case would be opened once the Coronavirus situation in the country subsides or restrictions are eased.

There is concern, however, that the suspects may jump bail as some of them are believed to be aliens or non-residents of Grand Gedeh or other counties in the Southeast.

Many people in the Southeastern region believe the “intruders” continue to be noticed or seen over creeks and rivers with their machines, despite the ban placed on illicit mining in 2019 by the Government.

Atty. Williams says a key concern about the use of dredges is the potential pollution from chemicals and other harmful substances of water sources of the local populations.

“Their activities do not only deny the Government of needed revenue; it threatens the lives of citizens. Therefore, all law enforcers, community dwellers, Mines and Energy Ministry agents need to work together to resist, disallow anyone venturing in dredging in our waters,” he continued

Meanwhile, Alex Yonly, Coordinator of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) in Grand Gedeh, backed the move by the County Attorney to pursue legal actions against individuals, he said, that are “abusing the social and economic benefits” of people in towns and villages through illicit mining activities.

“Most of such miners are foreign nationals, mainly ‘Ghanaians,’ who use some Liberians to front in their negotiations for either land or documentations from the requisite authorities. Some of the affected areas (in Grand Gedeh) are Konobo, Cavala, and Tchien districts, respectively,” said Yonly.

The illegal miners are taking advantage of the government’s challenge in “properly monitoring and controlling the mining activities due to lack of needed logistics, interference by local chiefs and other influential members of the ‘disenfranchised’ communities, said Leo Doerue, Regional Coordinator of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

He told LINA there is evidence the dredge miners carry out shadow operations by traveling onto local waters via the Cavalla River. This means they move about under the radar of Liberian authorities in most instances.

It may be recalled few months ago, that River Cess County alleged similar activities in which they say the miners traveled by way of the Atlantic Ocean from other countries in the region.(courtesy of LINA)