Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has directed all unauthorised galamsey Task Forces or parallel Security Operatives within the mining areas to cease and be disbanded with immediate effect.
A statement signed by the Minister said it has come to the attention of the Ministry that certain unauthorized “Task Forces” or security operatives have taken advantage of the ongoing “Operation Halt” to harass small scale miners across the country.
The statement said for the avoidance of doubt, government is not against lawful, regulated and sustainable small-scale mining.
The statement said ‘Operation Halt’ relates exclusively to the purging of our water bodies and forest reserves of illegal small-scale mining. It further stated that there continue to be measures to deal with other forms of illegalities in the mining sector such as enhanced regulation, reformation of the permit regime, community mining and other enforcement mechanisms which the Ministry is pursuing.
The statement indicated that the ongoing security operation, dubbed “Operation Halt” is mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces to preserve the “Red Zones”, that is the country’s Waterbodies and Forest Reserves.
It said the operation is being conducted under the express instruction of President Akufo-Addo, and is being overseen by the Ministry of National Security.
The Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to realise the national policy on small scale mining, which is to preserve water bodies, forest reserves, and sanitise the sector.
By: Felix Cofie.
