President John Dramani Mahama has said his government will not give up in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mahama argued that Ghana is making progress in the fight against illegal mining.
According to John Mahama, the government will intensify efforts to reclaim forest reserves and other environmentally sensitive areas affected by illegal mining activities.
He highlighted that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has played a key role in the ongoing efforts.
Speaking during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper East Region, Mahama stated, “NAIMOS is working very hard. We have seized excavators, we have seized Changfang machines, and we have driven illegal miners out of this area, and we are making progress. Out of the almost 49 forest reserves that were invaded [by illegal miners], we have been able to clear as many of them as possible of illegal miners.
“What we initially did was that we handed the places to the Forestry Commission after clearing them, but the illegal miners don’t fear the forest guards, and so we now put a military detachment after we clear a forest reserve.
“That means we will have to spend more money to feed the soldiers and provide logistics for them to continue to stay in the forest, but we will not give up the fight.”
The president, however, admitted that additional resources are required to sustain security deployments in reclaimed forest reserves, adding that the government would remain committed to preventing illegal miners from returning to areas already cleared.
Meanwhile, 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.”
@ghnow_ Opanin Garibah, a rubber tapper, has appealed to government to increase compensation for his 6.4-acre land affected by the Accra–Kumasi Expressway project. #GHnow #fyp ♬ suara asli – milenia – 🅄🅻🄸🅽🄽🆄🄷🅰
@ghnow_ The first batch of police recruits take part in a lively Jama session. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – NII DZANIE(God Of War 🇩🇪🦍🤴
