The Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, stating that strong political will is driving the fight.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series press briefing at Jubilee House, Dr Boamah highlighted the key role the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are playing in the nationwide anti-galamsey campaign.
“We are not out of the woods yet as a nation, but there is hope because there is political will at the very top,” he said.
“The Ghana Armed Forces have played significant roles in the fight against illegal mining.”
New Strategy and Reforms
Dr Boamah disclosed that the government had undertaken a comprehensive review of its anti-illegal mining strategy, resulting in key reforms aimed at making the fight more coordinated and sustainable.
A major outcome of this review is the creation of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, tasked with overseeing and streamlining all government interventions against galamsey.
“This Secretariat is a product of that review exercise,” Dr Boamah explained. “It ensures we are not only reactive, but also proactive and structured in our operations.”
Forest Reserves Reclaimed
The Defence Minister praised the Ghana Armed Forces for leading efforts to reclaim several forest reserves that were previously out of reach for forest guards due to the activities of illegal miners.
“The recovery of several forest reserves, which our forest guards could not even venture into, was led by the Ghana Armed Forces,” he noted.
Navy’s Support in Operation Halt II
Dr Boamah also cited the role of the Ghana Navy in Operation Halt II, a joint operation aimed at halting illegal mining activities along the River Ankobra in the Western and Western North Regions.
“In Operation Halt II, the Navy supported land forces to combat illegal mining along the River Ankobra, which had suffered from years of pollution due to mining,” he explained.
Environmental Protection a National Priority
Dr Boamah reiterated the government’s unwavering stance on protecting the environment, declaring that the fight against galamsey remains a national security and development priority.
“Our stance is unwavering. We see this as a critical issue for sustainable development and for safeguarding our natural resources for future generations,” he concluded.
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