The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has revealed that one of the impediments confronting the fight against illegal small-scale mining popularly called galamsey has been military protection the miners get.
The Minister asserted that at some of the illegal mining sites, one will find out that the military are present in full operation, protecting the mining companies.
On Onua 95.1 FM’s morning show Yensempa, Mr Amewu said on Monday when he and his team visited some of the sites, where two Ukrainian and two Russian nationals were arrested, both the military and the police were in combined operations guarding and protecting them.
He said this is a difficulty that the media must assist in overcoming since his ministry has not engaged the services of any security men for such operation.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister wonders which authority gave the officers the contract. Hence he called for inquiry into the activities of the mining companies and the military as well as the police.
According to Mr Amewu, the four arrested foreign nationals have been engaging in the act for the past 25 years.
He insisted that the Ministry is not against mining but wants to regulate it to enable those doing the right thing to continue.
He announced that a unit has been created in his office to re-register all the miners.
When Onua 95.1 FM contacted the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. Aggrey Quashie, its Public Relations Officer, said “we don’t want to respond to what the politician says”.
Col. Aggrey Quashie said by responding, GAF could be seen as challenging or having issues with politicians.
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