Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has expressed government’s resolve to be relentless in its fight against galamsey.

According to him, government’s efforts at clamping down on illegal small-scale mining should be seen as a process and not an event. He revealed that it is sad that people are mining in the country’s water bodies “without any shred of responsibility” of being a Ghanaian.

“Since Sunday, they’ve been patrolling the Offin and Ankobra and making sure they arrest these recalcitrant who have been destroying our water bodies. It is unfortunate that out of greed, people are destroying the heritage and future of this country. It is very unfortunate that despite government’s efforts, people are still doing this… But the assurance is that we remain unfazed and will be relentless in this fight.”
George Mireku Duker

Mr Duker stated that government has rolled out several strategies one of which has resulted in the arrest of some persons found in illegal mining. He highlighted that this “permanent attitude will also require a permanent solution”.

“So, we will place security men at vantage points on our water bodies and they will be stationed there permanently. The water guards will also be patrolling the water bodies while the air force will complement the efforts with aerial surveillance.”
George Mireku Duker

The Deputy Lands Minister commended the various teams commiitted to the fight and assured them that government “will provide all the necessary assistance to ensure that you achieve your targets”.

Arrests of illegal miners and destruction of changfans

On his part, Commander of Operations, Brigadier Amoah Ayisi, called on stakeholder to help fight the galamsey menace. He emphasized on the “cost of destruction on the environment” by one Changfan machine.

Brigadier Ayisi explained that if you multiply it by the number of them destroyed by the team, one will appreciate the commitment to the fight.

“But this fight should not be seen as a government fight. We must all come together because if our forefathers had mined this way, I’m sure we will not have had things easy. So I will implore all of us especially the media to get actively involved in this campaign because you can help change the mindset of these unpatriotic perpetrators,”
Brigadier Amoah Ayisi

The special operation resulted in the destruction of some 838 changfan machines on the Offin and Pra River. The three-day operation also led to the arrest of ten illegal small-scale miners.

The special operation made up of three military teams covered areas said to be notorious for illegal mining along and on the Offin and Pra Rivers and identified through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources improved reporting mechanisms.Several areas along and on the Offin and Pra Rivers have been destroyed by the operations of illegal small-scale miners.

The team recovery of the 838 changfan machines used by the illegal small-scale miners in their operation which were mounted on the river bodies, were all destroyed.