The Ghana Armed Forces has commenced the second phase of “Operation Halt” aimed at removing all persons and logistics involved in mining on water bodies.
In an announcement by the Ministry of Information, it disclosed that the new Phase of the operation;focuses on the tributaries of the Pra river which have also been significantly affected by the activities of illegal miners.
According to the Ministry, the Ghana Armed Forces has also commenced armed patrols of the Pra river. It reveals that the operation is being undertaken by four hundred (400) military officers of all ranks.
The Information Ministry further advised the public to stay away from mining in water bodies;to avoid any action by the forces.
This second deployment, comes after government deployed an initial number of 200 military persons;to remove all persons engaged in mining in water bodies in Ghana.
The operation, which was ordered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo started on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
Also, as part of the efforts to fight galamsey, government deployed two hundred (200) Police Officers;this time around to provide security for large-scale mining companies’ concessions across the country.
Unauthorized taskforce to cease operations
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Samuel Abu Jinapor has called for a halt in operations by unauthorized taskforces on various mining sites.
“Operation Halt relates exclusively to the purging of our waterbodies and forest reserves of illegal small-scale mining. There continue to be measures to deal with other forms of illegalities; in the mining sector such as enhanced regulation, reformation of permitting regime, community mining;and other enforcement mechanisms which the Ministry is pursuing.
“The operations of all such unauthorized Task Forces and/or parallel Security Outfits should cease and be disbanded with immediate effect.”
Samuel Jinapor
In a social media post, the Ministry averred that the directive is as a result of unauthorized taskforces reported to be harassing small scale miners.
“I refer to the ongoing security operation, dubbed ‘Operation Halt’, mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces to preserve the “Red Zones”, that is our Waterbodies and Forest Reserves. The operation is being conducted under the express instruction of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and is being overseen by the Ministry of National Security.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that certain unauthorized “Task Forces” and/or security operatives have taken advantage of the ongoing Operation Halt to harass small scale miners across the country.”
Samuel Jinapor
Mr. Jinapor also iterated the fact that, Government is not against lawful, regulated and sustainable small-scale mining.
The Ministry reiterated its unwavering commitment to realize the national policy on small scale mining, which is to preserve our waterbodies, forest reserves, and sanitize the sector.
