Amid growing concerns over the impact of illegal mining, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has promised swift government action to address the issue.
Despite suggestions that the government has eased its efforts in combating illegal mining, often referred to as “galamsey,” Jinapor emphasized that an emergency meeting will be convened to tackle the problem head-on.
The Minister revealed that security forces will be promptly deployed to affected areas to take decisive action.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Jinapor expressed confidence that the government’s renewed measures will lead to significant improvements, including the restoration of the country’s water and forest resources.
“We will conduct a review today and I am 1,000% certain that we will deploy and intensify our enforcement measures. We will carry out a comprehensive clean-up, particularly in the Central Region, and law enforcement agencies will lead a thorough sweep of the affected areas,” Jinapor said. “We are committed to finding the necessary resources and taking action within the next 24 hours.”
This assurance follows public calls for stronger government intervention in the wake of the Ghana Water Company Limited’s announcement that water supply has been rationed in parts of Cape Coast, Winneba, and Mankessim due to contamination from illegal mining activities.
