Colonel William Agyapong, out-going Commander of ‘Operation Vanguard’, has called for everybody to find space to contribute to the fight against illegal mining.

“The fight to halt the environmentally unsustainable mining is for everybody – all of us.”

He added that the destruction of water bodies, forests, farmlands and farms could not continue.

He was speaking at a ceremony held in the gold mining town of Obuasi to hand over the administration of the operation to a new Commander, Col Michael Amoah-Ayisi.

Col Agyepong expressed admiration for the strong support and cooperation the joint military/police taskforce assigned the job of stopping the illegal mining had been receiving from the political leadership in the Ashanti Region.

He said the backing from the Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, and his deputy, Madam Elizabeth Agyemang, had been wonderful.

Col Amoah-Ayisi, reminded the officers and men to ensure teamwork, maintain high level of discipline and loyalty.

It was the way forward to sustain and build on the success achieved since the start of the operation.

"The menace, illegal mining is posing to the nation is so huge and the taskforce has the onerous responsibility to deal with and remove this threat."

Col Amoah-Ayisi noted that there would be temptations, threats and provocations but said he had no doubt that through professionalism, these would be surmounted.

Brigadier General C.B. Alhassan, the General Officer Commanding of the Central Command, applauded the media for the vital role it had been playing in the illegal mining fight.