Lieutenant General Obed Akwa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), on Monday, urged the joint Military/Police Anti-galamsey Taskforce to perform their duties with courage and fortitude.

“Go forth with a clear conscience because the cause for this operation is the right course and so work as a team with the nationalist spirit,” he said, adding, “Failure is not an option”.

He said the taskforce was constituted to halt the operations of illegal mining otherwise known as “galamsey” in order to preserve the environment and prevent further destruction of farmlands and pollution of water bodies.

Lieutenant Obed Akwa said this at the launch of the operation code named, “Operation Vanguard” at Burma Camp in Accra.

He said the Military and the Police had undertaken similar joint operations in the past such as “Operation Gongo” in the Northern Region and ”Operation Calm Life” throughout the country as well as “Operation Halt One and Two”, which aimed at preventing illegal timber lumbering.

The Chief of Defence Staff noted that government had procured additional logistical resources in terms of vehicles clothing and medicals to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

He said the taskforce had undergone a two-week robust training at the Bundase Training Camp, which equipped them with the necessary orientation, guidelines, and essential skills needed for the operation, adding that, team work and effective leadership would ensure the success of the operation.

He said the troops had been divided into three detachments bases and assigned experienced commanders, which would be deployed to Eastern, Western and Ashanti regions.

“One guiding principle will be the Man-on-the Spot doctrine and, therefore, you are expected to use your initiatives and professional judgement correctly,” he advised.