Govt deploys over 100 soldiers to crack down on illegal mining

The government has deployed over 100 armed military personnel to various water bodies in a renewed effort to clamp down on illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey.

This action follows growing agitation from over 50 state and private civil society organizations (CSOs), urging the government to address the environmental devastation caused by galamsey, which has severely affected the country’s water bodies, farmlands, and forests.

To combat the ongoing menace, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military forces to strengthen “Operation Halt,” the ongoing initiative aimed at eradicating illegal mining activities.

This deployment is part of the government’s broader strategy to intensify the crackdown on galamsey, which has become one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges.

While specific locations for the operation have not been officially disclosed, sources from Citi News suggest that the Eastern Region will be the starting point for the intensified crackdown.

The Eastern Region has been one of the areas most affected by illegal mining, with the Birim River and other water bodies suffering significant contamination.

As part of the enhanced operation, naval boats will also be deployed on polluted river bodies to enforce the immediate cessation of all mining activities, whether legal or illegal, within and around these critical water bodies.

This approach aims to protect the nation’s water resources, which have been heavily polluted by toxic chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, used in illegal mining operations.

The government’s move to bolster “Operation Halt” is seen as a direct response to calls from environmental groups, CSOs, and ordinary citizens demanding immediate action to preserve the country’s natural resources.

Illegal mining has not only resulted in environmental degradation but has also posed severe health risks to local communities that rely on these water bodies for drinking water and agriculture.

The military deployment is expected to help restore some of Ghana’s most heavily impacted rivers, including the Ankobra, Pra, and Birim Rivers, which have been rendered unusable due to illegal mining.

Source: citinewsroom