Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has cautioned illegal miners to halt operations in Ghana’s rivers or face dire consequences.
Speaking during an anti-galamsey patrol of the Ankobra River in the Nzema East Municipality on Wednesday, the Minister declared government’s renewed resolve to restore polluted water bodies.
“We are sending a warning to anybody who has been violating our laws and destroying our water bodies. We are determined to turn them blue again. Stay out, or you do so at your own peril,” he said.
The operation, carried out with officers of the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), forms part of a broader clampdown on mining activities in and around river bodies.
Mr. Buah stressed that a new enforcement phase is underway:
“There is no law in Ghana that allows anybody to mine in any river body. Yet, our major rivers that are key to our survival are being destroyed.”
He revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has directed security forces to assume direct control of all major rivers as part of a fresh strategy to combat illegal mining.
“In the coming months, you will see a new shift. President Mahama’s focus is clear — we are going to take direct control of every river body. There will be a clear occupation by our security forces on all the major rivers,” he stated.
