By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ama Mawusi Mawunyefia, has disclosed that water pumps seized from illegal mining sites are being repurposed and given to farmers through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support irrigation and boost food production.
Speaking on GTV’s Current Agenda show on Saturday, October 25, 2025, Madam Mawunyefia said the initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure that items retrieved during anti-galamsey operations are put to good use rather than being left to waste.
According to her, over 900 water pumps confiscated during recent operations by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce (NAIMOS) have already been handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture for onward distribution to farmers across the country.
“There are still a few more pumps being collected at the NAIMOS office. Once we have a good number again, we will share them with the Ministry of Agriculture for distribution to farmers,” she explained.
Madam Mawunyefia added that the ministry only destroys equipment that poses environmental threats, such as chanfan machines and other heavy-duty mining tools, while equipment that can serve productive purposes is recycled to aid government programmes like irrigation farming and responsible mining initiatives.
She further noted that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is also implementing the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, which helps local mining communities form cooperatives and receive technical support to engage in safe and sustainable mining.
“We believe that materials recovered from illegal mining sites can be channeled to support positive economic activities such as farming and community mining. That is how we make the fight against galamsey not just punitive, but productive,” she stated.
Madam Mawunyefia reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency in its operations, saying that updates on the ongoing anti-galamsey efforts, including arrests and recoveries, are shared with the public
