A member of the Council of State, Lt. General J.B Danquah wants government to step up the fight against illegal mining activities.

According to him, government has a lot of work to do to ensure that illegal mining is completely eradicated in the country.

He said “the government is trying very hard but still there is more grounds to cover. It’s sickening to see the environment and rivers being destroyed.” He also warned small scale miners to desist from conspiring with galamsey operators in the country.

“ I want to tell those of you (small scale miners) who are colluding with the galamsey operators in this country to stop since this country belongs to all of us and its future and resources must be protected for future prosperity”. He said

He made this call Thursday, December 28 at a ceremony to commission the secretariat for the Inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining.

The ten (10) member committee which is being chaired by Prof. Frimpong Boateng is tasked with the responsibility of implementing to the letter government’s strategy on combating the illegal mining menace the country is faced with.

The other committee members are the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu, Minister for Regional Reintegration, Dan Botwe, and Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid.

The rest are; Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Kofi Adda, Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, Akoto Osei and the for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Kofi Dzamesi.