Government announces deployment of military as measure to fight galamsey
In response to growing public outcry and demonstrations, the government of Ghana has announced decisive measures to tackle the rampant illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.
According to reports from graphic.com.gh, military personnel will be deployed to various water bodies and forest reserves designated as ‘red zones’ to aggressively confront illegal miners.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also called for the immediate revocation of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), once Parliament reconvenes. This move is part of a broader strategy to curb the environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
In an interview, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, elaborated on the new measures, assuring that they would be swiftly implemented.
“Water bodies and forest reserves remain red zones for mining, and all forms of mining in water bodies, as well as reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration, and/or small-scale mining in forest reserves remain banned,” he stated.
The announcement comes in the wake of the #StopGalamsey protest, a movement of concerned Ghanaians demanding government action against the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining. The group organized a three-day demonstration from October 3 to 5, 2024, to highlight the urgent need for intervention.
Support for the anti-galamsey movement has been widespread, with religious leaders, political figures, and state institutions all voicing their concerns. Organised Labour has also issued a notice, threatening to embark on a strike on October 10, 2024, if the government fails to address the issue.
The deployment of military forces and the revocation of mining regulations are seen as critical steps in the fight against galamsey, aiming to protect Ghana’s natural resources and ensure a sustainable future.
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