The Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul has revealed that a number of 49 excavators, 228 changfans, and 87 water pumping machines among other mining equipment have been destroyed in the third phase of the operation halt.
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The four-day operation by the military taskforce mandated to halt activities of illegal miners was aimed at clearing illegal miners and their equipment on the Birim, Offin and Oda Rivers of the Eastern and Ashanti Regions.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the Minister indicated a number of 561 military personnel were deployed for the operation which covered 100 meters of the river.
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“It is very difficult to stray far away from the rivers due to the safety of the soldiers and the fact that it is very far. So if you were not very close to the river it will be difficult for your equipment to be seized,” he said
