The government has deployed military personnel to the southern, central and northern sectors of the country in the new wave of action against illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor has disclosed.
The new military campaign, unlike previous operations that concluded in three months, would be a sustained effort until the galamsey menace is brought to a satisfactory situation.
He indicated that the government has allocated significant funds and logistical support for the operation, which is being spearheaded by Operation Halt II.
Mr. Abu Jinapor made the disclosure at a media briefing in Accra on Thursday to update the public on new measures being implemented by the Government to combat illegal small-scale mining menace.
He called for a change of attitudes and collaboration with all stakeholders to help win the fight against galamsey.
He also urged the media to constantly educate and sensitize the public on the adverse effects of galamsey and the various diseases such as kidney problems and buluri ulcers affecting inhabitants in the mining areas.
The Minister highlighted a gamut of measures implemented by the Government so far to stop the galamsey menace including the procurement of speed boats to patrol rivers, training of river guards, forest reserves declared as “red zones” for mining and distribution of mercury-free gold processing machines (gold kachas) to small-scale miners.
The measures also include collaboration between the Lands Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Office to prosecute illegal miners, both Ghanaians and foreigners; rolling out of Community Mining Schemes for local people; recruitment and engagement of about 80,000 people for alternative livelihood programme; frequent operations by the military (Operation Halt) to mining sites to arrest and burn excavators belonging to illegal miners and setting up of 83 district mining committees to oversee mining at the district level.
Hon. Jinapor pledged the total and unflinching support of the President and the Ministry towards fighting the galamsey menace with integrity and transparency without shielding anybody irrespective of one’s political affiliation or standing in the society.