Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has ordered the immediate transfer of all Police Commanders stationed in mining areas.

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This directive, issued to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), aims to replace officers who have served lengthy terms in these areas.

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Speaking at an engagement with Imams and Zongo Chiefs in Kumasi, Minister Mubarak emphasized the government's commitment to tackling the devastating effects of galamsey on water bodies and farmlands across the country.

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"I have ordered the IGP to transfer all Police Commanders in all mining areas and send in new ones. So if you are a regional, divisional, or district police commander serving in mining areas, you will be changed with immediate effect," he declared.

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The Minister also announced that the new officers deployed to these areas will be strictly monitored and assessed based on their performance.

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"The new ones we are taking there will be transferred after three months if they don't perform. We will keep making changes till we see results," he emphasized, highlighting the government's determination to achieve tangible results in the fight against galamsey.

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Meanwhile, government is set to implement a geotagging and geofencing system to track excavators imported into Ghana, according to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.

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Speaking at a press briefing on April 3, he said the initiative will help monitor excavators from the moment they arrive at the country’s ports, ensuring better oversight of their use.

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"We believe that this programme of geotagging and geofencing must be expanded to include excavators as soon as they arrive at the ports," Mr. Buah stated, stressing the need for tighter regulation.

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The move comes as illegal mining continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s environment, leading to widespread deforestation and water pollution.

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