The fight against illegal mining is entering a new and tougher phase, as the government prepares to deploy military forces to take full control of Ghana’s river bodies, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced.
Speaking on the government’s renewed efforts to tackle galamsey, the Minister said the pollution and destruction of critical water bodies by illegal miners can no longer be tolerated.
“We are moving to another major phase of our fight against illegal mining,” he stated when he embarked on an anti-galamsey operation with officers of the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, (NAIMOS), to patrol the galamsey-polluted Ankobra River from Wiawso to Akango in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.
“There is no law in Ghana that allows anyone to mine in any river body, yet major rivers that are key to our survival are being destroyed.”
He reiterated that under President John Dramani Mahama’s directive, security forces will now be permanently stationed on all major river bodies across the country to enforce the law and prevent further illegal mining activities.
“In the coming months, you will see a new shift. President Mahama’s direction is clear — we are going to take control of every river body directly. There will be a clear occupation of our security forces on all the major rivers,” he said.
The Minister warned individuals and groups engaged in illegal mining near water bodies to stop immediately, saying the government is determined to restore the country’s rivers to their natural state.
“We are sending a warning to anybody who has been violating our laws and destroying our water bodies. We are determined to turn them blue again. This order has been given — stay out, or you do so at your own peril.”
This new approach supports an earlier announcement by Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who revealed that all 44 galamsey-affected areas would now have a permanent military presence.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
