The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency, George Mireku Duker has assured Ghanaians that the government is committed to fighting and removing all illegal mining activities in the country.
Mr. George Mireku Duker says the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources in collaboration with the Ghana military has started the operation halt 2 initiative to assist in the fight against all forms of illegal mining activities in the country.
The government since 2017 has pushed for the total abolishment of all forms of mining activities like GALAMSEY which usually destroys the water bodies.
At a media briefing Wednesday, Mr. Mireku Duker hinted that as part of the fight there has been an operation on some major water bodies in the western region in an attempt to protect and preserve water bodies and to maintain the momentum against the fight against illegal mining.
“The national security council and the ministry of lands and natural resources tasked the Ghana Army to clear all illegal miners in the Western Region on the Ankobra River and its tributaries. Southern Command will start to conduct follow-on preparations to clear all recalcitrant illegal miners within the Western Region.”
He added that the operation was conducted from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th December 2021. During the period of the operation, a total of 265 assaulted illegal mining items which were found within the Red Zone 100 meters of the Ankobra River, and its tributaries were destroyed.
Also, a total of 26 suspects were arrested, motorbikes and 22 mobile phones for illegal miners were handed over to the civil police of the district police stations at Prestea and Wassa Akropong.
Mr. Mireku Duker further outlined the plans and aims of the ministry in the quest to continuously protect the natural resources of this country.
“We will also permanently recruit and train river guards to police areas designated as Red zones. That they will be patrolling the river banks. We are also collaborating with the military and the University of Mines and Technology to have a river treatment technology where we could drench and treat the water. We are also purchasing speed boats to patrol the river bodies, obviously, lunch more community mining schemes to address the unemployment situation in the country. We will also be commissioning or inaugurating district mining committees in the mining districts. Every district is going to have a mining committee that will be supervising the mining activities in the mining districts.” He said.
Read Also: NDC holds public forum to discuss the 2022 budget and economic policy
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
