The Ministry of the Interior has reiterated its commitment to vigorously support government’s fight against illegal mining.
It said the government will deal firmly with persons who carry out the illegal act regardless of their political affiliations and resistance.
The Deputy Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, who made the comments said despite the resistance from some perpetrators, the government is determined to stop the menace.
He told Citi News that, “The bold decision of this government to go head on in tackling galamsey, those decisions are difficult decisions that you end up falling on the wrong sides of people, but they are decisions that have to be taken.”
He added that “I can assure that the galamsey operation is not going to be a nine-day wonder. We are going to go on a strong offensive of the galamseyers. The operation against galamsey is not targeted against a particular nationality. If you are a Ghanaian and you are found engaged in galamsey, you will be dealt with” he stated.
Many communities in about six regions of the country, are currently suffering the effects of the menace. Most of Ghana’s fresh water bodies have become poisonous with thousands of acres of fertile farmlands destroyed as a result of the menace.
Although Ghana’s laws are clear on illegal mining, the activity has been allowed to continue for more than two decades.
Citi FM has been at the forefront of media advocacy and crusade for action against the illegal activity.
The station among other things petitioned Parliament to stop the menace. The efforts have yielded some positive results including a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for small-scale mining.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
