By Yvonne Atilego
The Ghana Armed Forces is reviewing strategies to target illegal miners who operate at night. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said it will not relent in targeting culprits who are bent on desecrating river bodies in the name of illegal mining.
Deputy Sector Minister George Mireku Duker made this known at a media briefing in Accra while giving an update on the fight against galamsey.
According to him, during the operation halt two exercises, 26 people were arrested with about 265 illegal items destroyed.
Foreigners in Galamsey
The Ministry expressed concern about the influx of foreign nationals in the Small Scale Mining Sector and stressed that those caught in the act will be dealt with according to the law.
Meanwhile, the Ministry in the short term is adopting measures to further sanitize the sector. These include the recruitment and training of river guards to police designated red zones and the deployment of Speed Boats to patrol river channels.
Minerals Bank for Miners
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is in the process of establishing a Minerals Bank to address the needs of miners.
Deputy Sector Minister George Mireku Duker at a media briefing in Accra noted that this is part of efforts to get credit facilities for the Small Scale Mining Sector to promote good mining practices.