The Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Dr. Boamah emphasised that despite progress made so far, the country still has a long way to go in protecting its natural resources and ecosystems.
He highlighted a new strategy that combines military action, policy reforms, and stakeholder engagement to enhance the national response to galamsey. The Ghana Armed Forces has played a crucial role in supporting the fight against illegal mining, particularly in recovering forest reserves that were previously inaccessible due to galamsey activities.
The Ghana Navy has also been involved in recent efforts to combat galamsey along water bodies, including Operation Halt II, which targeted illegal mining activities along the River Ankobra in the Western and Western North Regions. Dr. Omane Boamah praised the military’s efforts, noting that the Ghana Armed Forces led the recovery of several forest reserves earlier in the year.
The government has undertaken a thorough assessment of its anti-galamsey efforts, resulting in new institutional measures aimed at improving coordination and enforcement. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat is one such measure, born out of the review of the government’s efforts to combat galamsey.
Dr. Omane Boamah emphasized the importance of political will in driving the fight against galamsey, stating, “We are not out of the woods yet as a nation, but there is hope because there is a political will at the very top.” The government’s renewed strategy and commitment to addressing the galamsey menace have brought hope that the situation can be brought under control.
