The Minerals Commission is investigating alleged illegal mining on the Offin River after its attention was drawn to the activity in a viral video on social media.
According to the Commission, swift and ruthless action will be taken to deal with the situation and any other such galamsey activities.
It assured that its resolve in the fight against illegal mining is resolute and total in order to sanitize the small scale mining sector.
In a release signed by the Chief Executive, Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi, the Commission indicated that within the last two years, Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) and the Commission, has introduced several measures to deal with the galamsey scourge.
“These measures include the introduction of Operation Halt II, engagement with relevant stakeholders, revamping of the Community Mining Scheme, geological investigation of designated areas to identify mineralized areas to be allocated to small scale miners, the distribution of one hundred (100) mercury-free equipment to ensure responsible mining and the inauguration of District Mining Committees to monitor and supervise small scale operations.”
“All enforcement mechanisms as well as intelligence gathering have been enhanced on all fronts.”
To further effectively deal with illegal mining in water bodies, the MNLR recently commissioned five speed boats that have been handed over to the Ghana Navy to patrol Rivers Ankobra, Pra, Offin, Birim and the Black Volta.
This is to ensure permanent patrols on the water bodies as way of preventing illegal miners from returning to mine in our waterbodies.
The Commission reminded the media and the general public that the fight against illegal mining should be a collective effort of all citizens and all and sundry to support it by making available any information on illegal mining activities such as the video in circulation.
It assured such leads will be acted upon with dispatch and integrity.