About 400 earth-moving equipment have been voluntarily withdrawn from various illegal small-scale mining sites across the country, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu has revealed.

He told Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM’s breakfast show on Wednesday 19 April that the heavy equipment are, however, yet to be handed over to the Ministry.

“We have had some reports that are quite encouraging, about voluntary withdrawal of some of the earth-moving equipment at the sites,” he said.

Mr Amewu, whose 21-day ultimatum to the galamseyers to pack out ends this week, said: “I expect that at the end of today, there will be a total withdrawal.

“What will follow,” he said, “is that… of course some element of force will need to be applied.”

According to him, “it is clear that the lawlessness can no longer continue. It’s total lawlessness, it has nothing to do with the mining regulatory framework, and, if, of course its lawlessness, we need to apply the law.”

Mr Amewu is currently undertaking a review tour of all galamsey sites in the country in the Eastern, Western and Central Regions, after which he will take a definitive decision about the next line of action.