Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah has pledged a tougher, action-oriented response to the illegal mining crisis, declaring that government efforts will now prioritize concrete results over rhetoric.

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His remarks come on the heels of a significant military sweep in the Western Region, where a clandestine illegal mining hub sheltering over 10,000 people was discovered and dismantled by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

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In a Facebook update on Wednesday, April 16, Dr Boamah underscored a shift in strategy, announcing that the time for talking is over.

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“We’ll talk less and let action and outcomes guide us,” he stated, signalling a new chapter of intensified enforcement aimed at restoring Ghana’s forests and water bodies.

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The Defence Minister also made a heartfelt appeal to illegal miners, urging them to vacate protected areas for their own safety and the country’s ecological survival.

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“Once again, in the name of God and Ghana, leave the forest reserves and water bodies. Save your lives. Save the environment,” he said, stressing the destructive toll galamsey has taken on both human life and the environment.

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Dr Boamah assured Ghanaians that the military has been granted full authority and political support to execute its mandate without compromise.

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“The Ghana Armed Forces has been empowered. We have the needed political will,” he affirmed, making it clear that the government is prepared to act decisively in the battle against illegal mining.

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The latest intervention in the Western Region adds to a growing list of state-backed operations aimed at uprooting illegal mining settlements and protecting the country's natural resources.

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