The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, says nearly 3,000 “Chamfin” machines and other illegal mining equipment have been removed from the Ankobra River and other water bodies as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The Minister disclosed this during a patrol of the Ankobra River from Dominase to Gwira Banso in the Western Region to assess the impact of Operation Water Shield, a joint operation being conducted by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Navy Special Forces.
According to Mr. Buah, the Ankobra River, which was previously heavily polluted and filled with illegal mining machinery and makeshift equipment, has been significantly cleared following months of sustained security operations.
He attributed the progress to a shift from sporadic raids to intelligence-led operations and permanent security deployments aimed at maintaining a continuous presence in areas affected by illegal mining.
The Lands Minister commended NAIMOS and the Navy Special Forces for their collaboration, saying their joint efforts were producing visible results in the government’s campaign against illegal mining.
Focus on Sponsors and Financiers
Mr. Buah, however, stressed that the fight against galamsey must go beyond removing mining equipment from water bodies.
He said government would intensify efforts to identify, apprehend and prosecute the sponsors and financiers behind illegal mining operations.
He further assured Ghanaians that government would not relent in its efforts to protect the country’s rivers and forests, describing their preservation as a national priority.
Warning to Illegal Miners
Meanwhile, NAIMOS Commander Colonel Kwame Sam Appiah issued a strong warning to mining operators whose activities continue to affect the Ankobra River.
Speaking after the patrol, he cautioned that operators could face action even when their mining activities are located away from the riverbank if those operations continue to have an impact on the river.
The warning forms part of intensified efforts by security agencies to protect Ghana’s water bodies from the effects of illegal mining.
