The Ghana Army, on Thursday October 10, pitched camp at the banks of the Birim River in the Eastern Region as part of heightened efforts to flush out illegal miners and their activities.
On the first day of the military camp, the soldiers set ablaze 18 chanfans used for illegal mining, 10 industrial water pumping machines, and one excavator in various illegal mining sites in the area.
Commander of the Operation Halt Task Force Col. Eric Tenadu told journalists that any miner operating on any water body is a target for arrest and the equipment would be destroyed without fear or favour.
The military assignment is being done in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners but the Operations Commander said his team would not spare any individual or group mining near or on any water body irrespective of whether or not the person has a license.
“We are launching this operation to make sure that we clear our water bodies. Whether registered or unregistered, we don’t care, our concern is the water body, so far as you are close to the water body, you are our target”, Col. Eric Tenadu noted.
He added, “We are confident that the water bodies will start to regain their natural state.” He emphasized that restoring these vital water sources, which have been severely polluted by galamsey activities, is a key objective of the task force
No arrests have been made as at press time on Thursday as reports say the illegal miners completely fled the area before the arrival of the soldiers.
The military presence, operation being done in collaboration with the Association of Small Scale Miners and the destruction of the illegal mining equipment is part of a broader frame work of activities to tackle the menace of illegal mining.
President Akufo-Addo, a day before the commencement of the renewed Operation Halt, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to stop illegal mining.
The President has, in a letter dated 9th October 2024, and addressed to the leadership of Organised Labour, outlined measures to address their concerns of the activities of illegal mining and its ripple effects. :
The President noted there would be a Deployment of Additional Military Personnel and directed the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military forces to intensify the ongoing “Operation Halt”, which aims to curb illegal mining activities.
The operation will be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies.
The President has also directed the immediate Suspension of Mining in Forest Reserves and accordingly instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I.2462), with immediate effect.
In a bid to enhance legal action against illegal mining activities, four (4) dedicated courts have already been established. The President has further directed the Attorney General to work with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining.
Government has urged Organised Labour to encourage all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a pact, committing themselves to the fight against illegal mining as part of their election pledges.
