Tano North chiefs have told President John Mahama that state institutions mandated to combat illegal mining (galamsey) have failed to halt it.
According to the Chiefs, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards have all failed to halt the continued destruction of the municipality’s forests and water bodies.
The Chiefs noted that the River Tano has turned completely chocolate-brown and is ruined beyond recognition.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, on Tuesday, the Adontehene of the Tanoso Traditional Council, Nana Kwapem Peni, stated, “It brings us immense sadness to see what has become of our beloved Tano River. Today, the water has turned completely chocolate-brown and is ruined beyond recognition”.
“All the state institutions mandated to protect us and fight illegal mining, including NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards, have completely failed to stop the destruction of our forests and rivers. We are left with no choice but to make an urgent appeal directly to President John Mahama to intervene immediately and save our water bodies before everything is lost.”
They further expressed their frustration after suspects who were arrested along the Tano River by residents supported by traditional authorities were released by the police.
Nana Oboni Nkrawiri IV stated, “The frustration we are facing in this community is unbelievable”.
“Our people, led by the traditional authorities, risked their lives to catch these illegal miners red-handed as they were polluting the Tano River. We arrested them and handed them over to the police, expecting justice.
“But to our total dismay, the municipal police authorities simply discharged them and set them all free. This national fight against galamsey is completely useless if the very people we arrest are routinely let off the hook.”
The Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, responding to the concerns stated, “I want to commend our traditional leaders for their relentless efforts in fighting illegal mining to ensure the Tano River becomes clean again, and I urge you not to relent”.
“You have my full support in this fight. But I must also call on the residents of Tano North to direct their anger at these illegal miners and the powerful paymasters behind them.
“If the community does not stand up together against them, the severe health crisis caused by these polluted rivers will never stop.”
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has admitted that Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is difficult.
According to the Lands Minister, there are significant challenges facing the government’s fight against illegal mining.
He, however, stressed that the government will not relent ot surrender in the fight against galamsey.
The Lands Minister described illegal mining as one of the greatest environmental threats facing Ghana.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 15, the minister stated, “The fight against illegal mining is a defining environmental battle that our generation must fight. Our rivers are not for sale, our forests are not expendable, our mineral wealth is a sacred inheritance that we have a duty to protect. The era of impunity is over, and the government will continue to pursue everyone who profits from the destruction of our environment.
“The battle against illegal mining is difficult, but the Ghanaian spirit is stronger. We will not retreat, we will not relent, and we will not surrender, but we shall reclaim our rivers, restore our forests, protect our natural wealth and secure a greener, stronger and more prosperous Ghana for posterity.”
He further added that over 200 galamsey suspects have been arrested in six months.
“In the last six months, we arrested 258 suspects, demobilised six excavators, 1,225 pumping machines were seized, we demobilised 765 Changfan machines, we destroyed 35 tricycles, motorbikes that were seized were 212, structures destroyed 430, and gold detectors that were seized were 40. All these in the forest reserves alone,” Armah-Kofi Buah noted.
“And I’m happy to say that today I’m not here to tell you about red zones, because we have not had any red zone, which means that government supporting the Forestry Commission is firmly in control of our forests,” he said.
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