Some Navy personnel and the Sector Minister patrolling the River Pra
THE GHANA Armed Forces (GAF) has deployed officers to the Ankobra and Offin rivers in line with government’s intensified efforts to deal with illegal mining.
According to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, which made this known, the platoon of Naval officers deployed by the army are to provide permanent patrol duties on the rivers to stamp out illegal mining activities on the two water bodies.
“Following operations undertaken by the Military (Operation Halt II) to prevent illegal mining on our water bodies, a platoon each of Naval personnel have been stationed on rivers Ankobra and Offin that the illegal miners don’t return to work on the water bodies. This is in line with the promise by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure that the water bodies are protected,” the ministry stated.
“The Ministry is also advising persons interested in small scale mining to contact the appropriate office of the Minerals Commission for assistance to be allocated places designated for small scale miners and also be assisted with Mercury free machines.
“The security agencies will deal ruthlessly with persons found engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’,” it added.
The deployment of the officers follows the decision by the Minerals Commission and Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to step up protection of the water bodies following viral videos of galamsey activities on Offin River.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, August 14, 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, stated that government will take decisive and long-term steps to deal with the menace.
He warned that anyone caught by the army officers in their operations will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He stated that speedboats and other logistics will be made available to the officers to aid them in their work.
He noted that within the last two years, government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Commission, has introduced several measures to deal with illegal mining.
He outlined some of these measures mentioning the introduction of Operation Halt II, engagement with relevant stakeholders, revamping of the Community Mining Scheme, geological investigation of designated areas to identify mineralised 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.
He asserted that as part of all these enforcement mechanisms, intelligence gathering has also been enhanced on all fronts to ensure that the fight is properly fought and won.
Mr. Ayisi reiterated that a tracking regulation has been passed with a tracking control room to be functional in September, adding that he believes in addition to these permanent patrols, the tracking will help together with drones connected to their control systems, and these will hoist over the rivers for frequent report to the Commission.
He stressed forcefully, calling out on the media and the general public that the fight against illegal mining should be a collective effort of all citizens, “Let’s all get onboard, get us the information, report what you see and hear and help us to help you.”
The CEO assured the Ghanaian public of its unflinching commitment in the fight to sanitise the small scale mining sector and also sensitise the public with more educational information.