By Ben TC Brooks,
River Gee County Correspondent
Local officials in River Gee County, under the leadership of Superintendent Mike Swengbe, have initiated a campaign to combat illegal mining activities, prompted by increasing environmental worries and their adverse effect on the local economy.
Swengbe issued a strong warning to individuals involved in illegal mining, stating that they will face legal consequences as local authorities are committed to protecting the county’s natural resources.
Recently, the county superintendent, along with several other officials, conducted inspections at various gold mining sites, particularly within the Tienpo Statutory district, where significant mining operations are occurring despite inadequate infrastructure, including road development.
During these inspections, multiple illegal mining operations were discovered as several illegal miners were apprehended and handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Swengbe has called on the Ministry of Mines and Energy, as well as local law enforcement officers assigned in the county to enhance monitoring and verification efforts at mining sites to ensure compliance with legal standards.
River Gee County is rich in natural resources such as gold and forests, yet suffers from a struggling economy, which some attribute to illegal mining activities largely involving individuals believed to be foreign nationals.
Two months prior, an unannounced inspection by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency in gold mining regions uncovered numerous unlicensed miners using dredges and excavators in creeks, forests, and rivers.
The directive from local authorities seeks to restore order in the mining industry and preserve Liberia’s natural resources for future generations.
Efforts are currently underway to enforce the ban and promote legal mining practices that will benefit both the county and the nation as a whole.
