Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has directed the Amenfi East Municipal Chief Executive and the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) to identify and locate the miner responsible for operations behind the New Cooperative Academy in Wassa Gyapa.

The directive follows the circulation of a viral video showing illegal mining activities occurring within a few meters of the school premises. Minister Nelson, who also serves as the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, issued the order during a visit to the site to assess the safety of the pupils and the extent of the land degradation.

Conflicting Timelines

The headteacher of New Cooperative Academy, Daniel Ndegoh, has challenged the timeline presented in the viral footage. According to Ndegoh, the activities shown were recorded in November 2024 and do not reflect the current state of the site.

School authorities clarified that:

- The mining site existed before the school was established, though its scale has increased over time.

- In 2023, an agreement was reached between the school, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the then-MCE, and the miner to ensure activities did not threaten the students.

- The miners have reportedly vacated the site for over a year.

Directive for Immediate Action

Despite the headteacher's statement that the site is currently inactive, Minister Nelson maintained that the area must be reclaimed as a matter of urgency to ensure the environment is restored and the school children are protected.

“I am directing the Municipal Security Council to immediately search for the miners and reclaim the degraded lands,” Nelson stated during his assessment.

The Minister issued a warning to individuals considering similar mining activities near educational institutions and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the safety of students in the region.