The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources through the Mineral commission has acquired five (5) speed boats to be deployed along the river bodies to combat the activities of the illegal miners in the Western Region.
The event took place at Beposo, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
The Government of Ghana as part of its efforts to clamp down illegal mining on and along river bodies designated as “RED ZONES” has decided to station speed boats on some of the major rivers for constant monitoring and real-time reporting to appropriate authorities
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah at the event said the region has had its fair share of the negative effects of illegal and indiscriminate mining activities. The lands and water bodies are essential resources for nation-building which need to be managed and efficiently preserved for posterity.
He said, “We are therefore grateful to His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and his government for making combating illegal mining one of the signature projects, and consistently, put up measures to halt illegal mining and its related activities in the country’s water bodies and environment.”
The Minister added that The Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) will continue to offer sustained support to the fight against illegal mining until the battle is won. The region has been engaged in the organisation of the Ghana Gold Expo and the mining week for the past 2 years which is aimed at promoting responsible mining.
He concluded by adding, “I am happy to announce that it was through the deliberations at Ghana Mining week and the collaboration with the Bank of Ghana that has triggered the decision by the Central Bank to buy Gold from Ghana to shore its reserves.”
“Again the recent distribution of mercury-free machines to small-scale miners for the extraction of Gold is a by-product of the interactions at the Ghana Mining Week. As a region, we are facilitating the opening of Community Mining Schemes where they will be regulated to mine responsibly.”