Accra: The government has announced plans to station permanent military bases at strategic locations across the country's water bodies and forest reserves as part of heightened efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Yussif Sulemana, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, emphasized the necessity of this initiative as illegal miners often return to sites shortly after security operations have pushed them out. The Deputy Minister made these remarks at the 11th West and Central Africa Mining Summit and Expo held on Thursday in Accra, which gathered industry players to discuss sustainable mining strategies in the subregion.
He noted that while the National Inter-Ministerial Operation against Illegal Mining (NAIMOS) had been successful in removing encroachers, the lack of a permanent security presence allowed them to return. "Going forward, we are going to have permanent military bases at appropriate vantage places, so that as we flush them out, there is that presence there, and the galamsey operators are not able to come back," Mr. Sulemana stated.
Furthermore, he mentioned that nine forest reserves, which had been lost to illegal mining under the previous administration, have since been reclaimed by the current government. Mr. Sulemana also discussed improvements in water quality, asserting that turbidity levels have decreased as a result of ongoing interventions.
Despite journalists presenting data showing high turbidity levels, Mr. Sulemana argued that comparisons should be made using samples from the same locations as before to ensure accuracy. Recent measurements have shown dangerously high turbidity, with water treatment facilities in the Central Region recording raw water turbidity levels as high as 32,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).
Mr. Sulemana acknowledged these discrepancies but urged for careful comparisons to avoid misleading conclusions. He asked for patience and support to allow the government's measures to take effect, emphasizing that this move does not equate to declaring a state of emergency but rather implementing pragmatic policies and mechanisms.
Madam Maggie Tan, CEO of Magenta Global, the summit organizers, highlighted the importance of combating illegal mining for environmental protection and ensuring local communities benefit from resource wealth. She welcomed Ghana's approach of combining military action with long-term policy reforms.
"Our purpose is to provide a neutral, objective platform to generate conversations and influence policy. Governments must find ways to curb destructive practices while ensuring that the economic benefits are reaped not just by big companies but also by local communities," she stated.