President Akufo-Addo has said that the illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey has been a bane of the progress of the country's water bodies.

He said that the issue of "galamsey" has been fought by a very strong manpower.

He further commended the men who have exerted the force in putting the illegal mining activities under control.

He said "Desperate situations calls for desperate remedies, we cannot look on as our very existence as a country is found in jeopardy as our water bodies and land marks are destroyed".

He also commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John peter Amewu for the tireless effort to curb the situation.

President Akufo-Addo passed the comments while addressing the Parliament in the State of the Nation Address, the second since he assumed office January last year.