The Ghanaian government plans to deploy river guards and the navy to patrol the nation’s river bodies as part of a robust strategy to combat illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
This announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on October 8.
Mr. Jinapor described a recent meeting with Organised Labour regarding their planned strike on October 10 as “very productive and fruitful.”
He emphasized that the government’s strategy to fight galamsey will commence with the repeal of Legislative Instrument LI 2462, which currently allows mining in forest reserves.
“Consensus was reached that the government will take steps to repeal LI 2462 when Parliament resumes and also ensure the expeditious trial of offenders,” he stated. The minister hinted at additional interventions that will be revealed soon, including the patrolling efforts to prevent illegal mining activities.
While discussing the causes of deforestation, Mr. Jinapor clarified that agriculture is the leading driver, though he acknowledged that mining contributes significantly to environmental degradation.
He reassured the public that the government is committed to tackling the galamsey issue, emphasizing that mining near water bodies is strictly prohibited and that efforts are underway to extend the restricted distance from 100 to 200 meters. Small-scale mining is also not permitted in forest areas.
“The impression should never be created that we are just waking up to take action against this menace. Operation Halt has been happening almost every fortnight, and we are going to intensify that,” he affirmed.