President Nana Akufo-Addo has appealed to the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining to continue to support government’s fight against galamsey, regardless of the challenges associated with the fight.

Since assuming office in 2016, the Akufo-Addo-led administration began a fight to curb illegal mining.

Almost 4,000 people have so far received training in small-scale mining.

Delivering the 2020 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, 20 February 2020, President Akufo-Addo noted that the efforts made by the government to curb illegal mining have yielded results.

President Akufo-Addo stated: “University of Mines and Technology at Tarkwa took on the role of training local people in sustainable mining and by the time the ban on small-scale mining was lifted last year, almost 4,000 had received the training. The honourable house also did its part by amending the Mining Act to raise the penalty for illegal mining and prohibiting foreign nationals from participating in any in small-scale mining; the nation is grateful for the intervention of parliament.”

He also assured Ghanaians of the government’s commitment to the galamsey fight and called on the Media Coalition not to be discouraged.

“I’m appealing to the Media Coalition not to be daunted by the difficulties in the fight against galamsey. The government will not weaken its stance and welcomes the continuous support.”