A combined team of armed police and military personnel under the name ‘Operation Vanguard’ who were deployed to mining communities in the country to stop illegal mining said to be polluting the country’s water bodies have disclosed that 75% of their work has been achieved.

The task force was formed by the government of Ghana to help enforce the ban on all illegal and small-scale mining following the devastating effects on the country’s natural resources

Speaking on Kumasi based radio Oyerepa Fm morning show with Nana Kwadwo Jantuah the host and monitored by MyNewsGH.com, the Public Relations Officer of the deployed armed men indicated that his forces are already done with about 75% of the work.

“Looking at the work done so far, I will say we have completed almost 75% of the total job. Though we are not at every part of the country, Operation Vanguard is still on the job”. Public Relations Officer of Operation Vanguard, Squadron Leader Oman Agyei.

His comments were in response to whether it would be advisable for the government to lift the ban on the activities of the small-scale miners with immediate effect more than a year of the existence of the ban.

Squadron Leader Oman Agyei insisted that, offenders who are arrested must face stiffer punishment to deter others from engaging in similar acts to help their work meet the desired results.

Operation Vanguard (OV) is a task force which consists officers of Ghana Police Service and the military, formed by the current government to fight illegal miners to bring sanity in the mining sector

In the early months of the year 2017, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo waged war against illegal mining amidst the notion of reclaiming damaged natural resources of the country especially water bodies.

Government consequently extended the six months ban on small-scale mining to nine. Many small-scale mining operators accused the president of deceiving them.

However, the President assured the miners of good news this year 2018.

Small-scale miners have threatened to sue the government over the new extension date claiming that they still hold valid licensees to operate and therefore government can’t put a ban on their activities anyhow.