Galamsey fight: Akufo-Addo declares forest reserves, water bodies red zones

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has declared designated forest reserves and water bodies as red zones in a renewed fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The various regional security councils have been directed to strictly enforce the law and flush out all illegal miners on sight as well as destroy equipment being used for illegal mining.

“As from today Friday 30 April, 2021, all prospecting and/or reconnaissance activities in all forest reserves in Ghana, are to cease and all equipment for such purposes evacuated,” a press statement from the ministry of lands and natural resources said.

It added: “Regional Security Councils across the country, which are already mandated to enforce all the laws, regulations and/or directives in the mining sector, have been put in readiness to ensure enforcement of these directives.

Strict enforcement

“In this regard, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, met with all Regional Ministers and relevant sector Ministers on Wednesday 28th April, 2021 at the Jubilee House, during which meeting, H.E the President designated Forest Reserves and Waterbodies as “RED ZONES” and directed strict enforcement accordingly.”

According to the ministry, it has also “constituted a monitoring and evaluation team to ensure the enforcement of these measures” therefore a situation room has been set up to receive complaint about illegal mining activities from the general public.

“The situation room may be contacted via telephone numbers 020 5001978 / 0303 941743 and e-mail – mlnr.ghana@gmail.com.

“Also, in accordance with the highest standards of transparency, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has tasked the Minerals and Forestry Commissions to publish the list of companies holding prospecting and or reconnaissance licenses in Forest Reserves by close of working day on Friday, 7th May, 2021.”

Progress

Meanwhile, the government has announced that all equipment that will be seized under a new effort to end galamsey will be destroyed on-site.

The operation which involves the deployment of 200 military personnel started last Wednesday and already nine excavators, 127 changfans (washing machines), and one fuel pump which were being used for illegal mining in the river Pra have been destroyed.

“It is noted that since the commencement of the operation, the troops have destroyed a good deal of equipment including nine excavators, 127 changfans-machine platforms associated with mining equipment and one fuel pump,” the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, said at a press conference on Friday.

“Furthermore, the following items have been seized and would be destroyed except items that will be used as exhibits in court. The items include 8×24 plate batteries, one pump action gun case, a generator, Huawei phone, chainsaw machine, eight raincoats, fuel filters, non-citizen Ghana ID cards, two drilling equipment, and two boots. These items will be destroyed except what the police deem necessary for their work for prosecution.”

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