The government of Ghana has announced measures to combat the illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey, amid demonstrations by some disgruntled Ghanaians.

According to graphic.com.gh, military personnel will be deployed to various water bodies and forest reserves that have been marked as ‘red zones’ to deal with illegal miners ruthlessly.

Additionally, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called for immediate steps to be taken to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), when Parliament reconvenes.

Speaking in an interview, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, shed light on the measures, assuring that they would be implemented as soon as possible.

“Water bodies and forest reserves remain red zones for mining, and all forms of mining in water bodies, as well as reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration, and/or small-scale mining in forest reserves remain banned,” he said.

Meanwhile, the #StopGalamsey protest, a group of Ghanaians who are aggrieved by the destruction of water bodies by illegal mining activities, has calling on the government to take action to resolve the issue.

They organised demonstrations which lasted for three days, spanning from October 3 to 5, 2024.

Religious leaders, political figures, and state institutions have all also added their voices for the galamsey menace to end.

Organised Labour has served notice that it will embark on a strike on October 10, 2024, if the government fails to respond to the calls.

SB/AE