17th September 2024 10:30:23 AM
2 mins readThe fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, in Ghana's Eastern Region has taken a dire turn. In a recent interview on JoyNews' PM Express, Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong shared alarming details about the escalating challenges his team faces in combating illegal mining. The region has become a focal point in President Akufo-Addo's efforts to protect Ghana's water bodies from the devastating impact of galamsey.
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A striking example of the dangers faced by the task force was when 400 illegal miners overwhelmed them during an operation."Our task force, made up of military, immigration, police, and intelligence officers, was simply outnumbered," Mr. Acheampong explained. "We were about 30 men, and they were 400." The primary concern lies in the destruction of water bodies, which poses a significant threat to food security and human life.
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"Our main fight is on the water bodies because it's where the biggest issue lies. The water feeds all of us, and if it gets totally destroyed, we'll face a crisis of food shortages and loss of lives," Mr. Acheampong stated.Despite criticisms calling for a state of emergency, the minister defended the government's approach, pointing out the difficulties in dealing with the sheer number of miners. "There's a lot of misinformation.
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We don't retreat because we don't want to fight. It's because we're sometimes outnumbered. How do 30 security personnel fight off 400 armed men?""Unfortunately, most of the people in the pits today are not Ghanaians. That's the sad part. We arrest them, and when processing them, we try to engage their embassies, but sometimes they are overwhelmed too," Mr. Acheampong lamented.
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While progress has been made, the minister acknowledged that more support is needed. He welcomed President Akufo-Addo's recent directives but remained realistic about the challenges ahead.In related news, Operation Halt II, a military anti-galamsey taskforce, recently arrested 164 suspected illegal miners at Anyinam and Mampong in the Eastern Region. This operation is part of the government's renewed fight against illegal
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mining.
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