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Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kwame Baffoe, has told President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Lands and Natural resources, Abu Jinapor that the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey will be a fiasco if they do not tackle the fight from within the ruling government.

According to him, some top government and party officials are deeply involved in the illegal mining business which is fast depleting the country's forest reserve and destroying so many water bodies.

Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that the fight against illegal mining which was initiated by President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has been thwarted by these so-called illegal miners who derive their authority from the government and some party officials.

The vociferous regional Chairman added that he has personally visited some of these galamsey sites and can boldly say that some party and government officials are greatly involved in the illegal mining business.

He said the canker will be very difficult to fight hence the President should rather concerntrate on protecting the various water bodies used by the Ghana Water Company Limited and being destroyed by Galamsey.

"With what I've seen and what is following, I will only suggest that they concentrate on our water bodies so we get water to drink . . . it won't be a success . . . the President should rather concentrate on protecting our water bodies . . ." he said.

Abu Jinapor will have to muster the courage in his quest to end it or he will fail like his fellow Ministers.

Watch video below



Soldiers Deployed To Galamsey Areas

The 200 military personnel dispatched by the government to flush out illegal miners on Ghana’s water bodies have destroyed nine excavators, 127 changfans, and one fuel pump.

The exercise christened “Operation Halt” has also led to the arrest of two Chinese nationals.

Outlining the scope of work of the team, the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, warned that the armed military men will take action against persons who are found to have returned to the site.

“It is noted that since the operation commenced on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, to Thursday, April 29, 2021, the troops have destroyed a good deal of equipment including nine excavators and  127 changfans. Furthermore, the following items have been seized and would have been but for the fact that they will be used as exhibits in court for prosecution. The items include 8×24 plate batteries, one pump action gun case, a generator, a Huawei phone, a chainsaw machine, eight raincoats, fuel filters, non-citizen Ghana cards, two drilling equipment, and two boots.”

“These items will be destroyed except what the police deem necessary for their work for the prosecution.”

He also noted that they will be patrolling and operating in galamsey-endemic regions, where major river bodies and forest reserves have been polluted.

“This operation will be conducted on all major river and forest reserves in all galamsey endemic regions throughout the country to rip them of illegal mining activities.”