Nine excavators, 127 changfans, and one petrol pump have been demolished by the 200 military troops sent by the government to root out illegal miners on Ghana’s water bodies.
Two Chinese nationals were also apprehended as part of the “Operation Halt” exercise.
The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, outlined the extent of the team’s work and cautioned that armed military men would take action against those who returned to the site.
“It should be noted that the troops have lost a significant amount of supplies, including nine excavators and 127 changfans, since the campaign began on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, and ended on Thursday, April 29, 2021. In addition, the following objects have been confiscated or may have been seized if they were not to be used as evidence in court for prosecution. A generator, a Huawei phone, a chainsaw machine, eight raincoats, fuel filters, non-citizen Ghana cards, two drilling equipment, and two boots are among the items.”
“Except for what the police find appropriate for their work for justice, all things would be destroyed.”
They would also patrol and operate in galamsey-endemic areas, where large water sources and forest reserves have been poisoned, he said.
“Both big river and forest reserves in all galamsey endemic regions in the world will be subjected to this campaign to rid them of illegal mining activities.”
“Aerial patrols would be conducted in areas where the GAF has already swept through. Anyone who returns to these river sources to partake in galamsey operations will be subjected to prompt action by armed men.”
About the military deployment
On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dispatched 200 military troops to root out illegal miners who are poisoning the country’s water sources.
The team began the campaign on the River Pra in the Central and Western Regions on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, according to a release from the Information Ministry.
The directive is focused on recommendations obtained by the government during the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining, which took place from April 14 to 15, 2021, according to the document.
“In order to ensure that mining within water bodies is immediately stopped, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has authorized the Ghana Armed Forces to begin an operation to remove all persons and logistics involved in mining from Ghana’s water bodies,” according to the final communiqué of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining held on April 14 and 15.
“On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 0600 hours, the activity on the River Pra in Ghana’s Central and Western Regions began. The activity entails the participation of 200 officers from the Ghana Armed Forces.”
Read Also: Government’s incompetence has caused recent power outages – Suhuyini
Government’s renewed fight against galamsey
At a National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining, the government reaffirmed its pledge to combat illegal mining, with stakeholders urging the government to strictly enforce the country’s mining laws.
As a result, several steps have been taken in this respect.
Prospecting operations in forest reserves throughout the country have been directed to be halted indefinitely by the government.
It also informed the Minerals Commission not to process or approve any requests for prospecting license renewals in forest reserves.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
