The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, has expressed his gratitude to the Mamponghene, Dasabre Osei Bonsu II, for preventing illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey from gaining roots in his traditional area.
Mr Jinapor on behalf of the Ministry, appreciated the King for his support, advice and encouragement throughout his tenure of office as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. He indicated that the King has exhibited so much concern towards his Ministry with regards to the issue of galamsey.
The Minister was speaking at a durbar in Mampong on the sidelines of the 1st Akwasidae Festival in 2023, hosted in the Ashanti Region.
“If there has been a King in Ghana who has really fought to ensure that galamsey does not gain roots in his traditional area, it is the Mampong Hene and for this, I’m much grateful to him.”
Samuel Jinapor
Mr Jinapor informed the King that due to his good counsel and support, his work at the Lands Ministry has been recognized by the government, with the addition of the Trade and Industry Ministry as Caretaker Minister.
The lands minister in his submission called for peace and togetherness between the ruling party and opposition party, even as the elections year approaches.
On his part, the Mamponghene and occupant of the Silver Stool, Dasabre Osei Bonsu II, applauded the lands minister for his efforts so far at the Ministry and urged him to hold on every position assigned to him by the President of the Republic.
He revealed that he will continue to support him to succeed. He concerted that he is fully aware that the Minister has just begun his political career and cited the Chinese proverb of “a journey of a thousand miles start with a step”.
He expressed that he is confident the land minister will go far in his career ambition and will, with the help of God succeed.
In the company of the Minister at the durbar was his Deputy Minister responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, some members of Parliament and other Officials from the Ministry.
Government’s fight against illegal mining
Government in recent years has engaged in a fierce fight against galamsey to foil the devastation of both vegetative and waterbodies in the country. Earlier this year, the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry revealed that it is set to take delivery of four aircraft from the Ghana Armed Forces to aid the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey.
Deputy Lands Minister, George Mireku Duker, noted that the aircraft which belongs to the Armed Forces will come in handy as new strategies are being mapped out to fight galamsey. He explained that because the court may need some evidence to back claims of galamsey, and for such reason, these aircrafts are very important in the sector.
Elsewhere, Mr Jinapor indicated that the government and the Military High Command are reviewing strategies in the fight against illegal mining. He stated that it was important to adopt new strategies considering the revolving nature of the fight, emphasizing that the Military Command will roll them out to the public when it deems fit.
Mr Jinapor highlighted that the nitty-gritty of the new strategies has been left in the hands of the Military High Command, assuring that the momentum will surely be sustained.
In November last year, the Ghana Armed Forces deployed in the fight against illegal mining in forest reserves and river bodies seized 30 excavators, destroyed four and immobilized four others on site.
This was after the re-launch of Operation Halt II on October 11, 2022, with the seizure and destruction made within the period ending October 31.
The Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi, stated that during the three-week operation period, the teams destroyed 103 Changfan machines, nine water pumping machines, five generator sets and two fuel storage tanks.
READ ALSO: DDE: Deferring Principal Payments Will Reduce Some Burden On Government- Economist
