The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has cautioned Changfang machines producers to immediately seize production in the country.
He stated that government has banned the manufacturing of changfang machines used by illegal miners on water bodies for mining.
The Deputy Minister who announced this,;said, anyone who flouts the order would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with law.
Mr. Mireku Duker gave the directive when he inaugurated a 40-member Ghana National Small-Scale Miners Association(GNASSM) task force in Kumasi.
He further disclosed that government would crackdown on all persons;or groups engaged in the production of changfang motors that aid illegal mining activities on rivers bodies.
The Deputy Minister indicated that the task force was to immediately commence work to curb illegal mining on rivers including the Ankobra, popularly known for mining activities.
He said prior to this directive,;several changfang machines were destroyed by the Military task force on river Ankobra.
“Just yesterday,;several changfang machines were destroyed by the Military taskforce on river Ankobra.”
Mireku Duker
The Deputy Minister also announced the formation and inauguration of Regional task force to support the current operation on rivers bodies.
5 speed boats to be made available
Mr. Mireku Duker further said the Minerals Commission is making available 5 speed boats to compliment the efforts of the task force.
“The Minerals commission will also make available five speed boats. Five multipurpose vessels to the task force”
Mireku duker
He then charged the team to devote themselves to the task ahead, devoid of extortion from the public.
With the National Security, Military, Navy and the National small-scale miners engaged in a joint operation to tackle illegal mining on the Ankobra, Mr. Mireku Duker said he was sure of a successful outcome.
He said since the task force already knows the rudiments of the job, it should be done well. He also appealed to them to help the Ministry and the nation as a whole to clean up the small-scale mining sector.
“You know the rudiments already. Help us to clean up the small-scale mining sector.”
Mireku Duker
The Lands Ministry together with the Defence Ministry in the quest to curb the issue of illegal mining in the country launched “Operation Halt”.
This initiative saw many illegal mining equipment being destroyed on the various water bodies across the country.
Based on this previous effort,;he further emphasized that government would intensify its initiatives on fighting illegal mining to curb the menace in the small-scale mining sector.
Task force will support government
On his part, the Vice President of the Ghana National Small-Scale Miners Association,;Sampson Kofi Wiredu commended government for the bold steps so far in curbing and controlling illegal mining.
He then assured that the task force will work to support the government and the country.
Mr. Wiredu also charged members of the task force to work to justify their involvement and said if the country sees their good works, it will reward them.
“If the country sees your good works, it will reward you.”
Kofi Wiredu
However, he pleaded with the Ministry to speed up its support to the task force for smooth operations going forward.
Present at the inaugural ceremony were the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio, CEO of Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Ayisi and the President of the Ghana National Small-Scale Miners Association, Mr. Philip Akufo.
