Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who has applauded President John Dramani Mahama’s strategy for combating illegal mining, claims that the government is fighting galamsey with “ruthlessness.”
The crackdown is already showing results, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communication told on-air host Saddick Adams, also known as Obama.
“So far, about 440 excavators and some 300 chanfangs have been seized and burnt. In addition, close to 900 water pumps taken from these illegal miners have been given to farmers to support their production,” he revealed on Angel FM.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu stressed that President Mahama is determined to deliver on his pledge to confront galamsey head-on.
“He promised to deal with this menace decisively, and that is exactly what we are seeing,” he said.
He also revealed that after military overran the areas to expel illegal miners, a number of forest reserves that had been “blatantly seized by bandits” had been reclaimed.
He claims that the government has also made it more difficult to import and use heavy mining equipment.
“There are strict policies in place for how excavators are brought into the country. Most of them are now fitted with trackers to ensure they do not end up at galamsey sites,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained.
He insisted the measures prove the administration’s resolve; “This is not just talk. The government is showing it will go to every length to restore our lands, our water bodies, and our forests from the hands of these illegal miners.”
