The National Coalition on Mining has warned that the government’s reliance on military and police operations to fight illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, will not yield lasting results.
According to the Coalition, a more strategic and sustainable plan is required to effectively address the problem.
Speaking on Sunday, October 19, a member of the Coalition, Emmanuel Ellimah, noted that past military operations have consistently failed to stop the menace, as illegal mining continues to thrive despite numerous interventions.
He cited several examples, including Operation Flashout under former President Kufuor, Operation Cowleg under President Mahama, and Operation Vanguard as well as Operation Halt One and Two under President Akufo-Addo.
“If the use of the military was the solution, we wouldn’t still be dealing with galamsey today,” Mr. Ellimah stated, calling for a change in the government’s approach.
He further stressed the importance of engaging local communities, enforcing environmental laws, and properly regulating small-scale mining to ensure lasting progress.
Meanwhile, the government has established the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), an inter-security task force, to intensify the fight against galamsey. The group has already made several arrests since its launch.
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