The Communications Director at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Zambaga Rufai Saminu, has scored the government’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, 8 out of 10.
According to him, although there is still more work to be done, the government has made significant progress in its efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and restore areas destroyed by the activity.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana, Mr Saminu pointed to the intensified operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) as part of the measures being implemented to tackle the menace.
NAIMOS was established to coordinate intelligence-led operations against illegal mining, particularly in forest reserves and along water bodies. The Secretariat has been conducting enforcement operations, arresting suspected illegal miners and seizing or destroying equipment used for illegal mining.
Mr Saminu said the government’s efforts do not end with the removal of illegal miners from affected areas, stressing the importance of ensuring that reclaimed lands are protected from renewed mining activities.
He said officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) monitor reclaimed areas to prevent illegal miners from returning.
His assessment comes against the backdrop of growing concern over the scale of environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
Before the latest intensified interventions, illegal mining had spread into several forest reserves and major river systems, with the situation becoming particularly serious in parts of the Western, Western North, Ashanti and Eastern regions.
Mr Saminu therefore urged Ghanaians to take collective responsibility for the fight against galamsey.
He called on citizens to say “NO” to illegal mining, arguing that the consequences of the practice, particularly the destruction of water bodies, forests and farmlands, affect the entire country.
While praising the Mahama-led administration for what he described as exceptional efforts, Mr Saminu criticised the previous NPP administration, claiming it did not undertake reclamation efforts on the scale required to address the damage caused by illegal mining.
He nevertheless acknowledged that the government still has more to do.
“I rate the government 8/10,” he said, stressing that the score reflected the progress made so far in the fight against galamsey.
By: Gota Lois Atsufe Quarcoo | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
