The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to intensifying efforts against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, particularly on water bodies.
According to him, the government would soon deploy law enforcement agencies to target areas with rising illegal mining activities with a special focus on the Central Region.
Conversations on galamsey and its dire impact arose after the management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region announced that there would be challenges with water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina and surrounding communities.
The company revealed that the recent demand-supply gap is due to inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP), caused by galamsey activities.
Environmental groups, civil society organisations and concerned citizens have since voiced their frustrations over the lack of significant progress in curbing galamsey activities, which have resulted in the contamination of rivers, destruction of farmlands and loss of livelihoods for many Ghanaians.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has assured the public that a comprehensive operation would be launched within the next 24 hours to clear illegal miners from key areas. The minister further explained that the government’s anti-illegal mining initiative, known as Operation Halt, was designed to be a targeted and strategic effort. He further explained that the operation is not continuous but rather surgical, with enforcement actions taken whenever illegal mining activities are identified as increasing in particular areas.
However, The Chronicle sees this move by the Minister as a familiar promise. For years, the devastating effects of galamsey have been well-documented, yet the problem persists, wreaking havoc on the environment, public health, and livelihoods across the country.
The crisis at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is a stark reminder of the immediate and long-term consequences of galamsey. The Ghana Water Company Limited’s revelation that raw water supply to the plant has been severely compromised by illegal mining activities is both alarming and disheartening.
This is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health emergency. The contamination of water bodies due to galamsey has far-reaching implications, affecting not only the availability of potable water but also the overall health of communities that depend on these water sources.
The Chronicle is glad that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has assured the public that a comprehensive operation will be launched to remove illegal miners from key areas. This operation, part of the government’s broader anti-illegal mining initiative, known as Operation Halt, is described as targeted and strategic, designed to be a “surgical” response to illegal mining activities.
While this approach might seem pragmatic, given the unpredictable nature of galamsey operations, it raises several concerns. First and foremost, the intermittent nature of enforcement, acting only when illegal activities are identified as increasing may not be sufficient to deter the determined and often well-organized individuals and groups involved in galamsey. These miners are notorious for their resilience, often returning to sites shortly after enforcement operations have concluded.
The sporadic nature of Operation Halt could inadvertently create a cycle of cat-and-mouse, with illegal miners simply lying low until enforcement efforts wane. Moreover, the promise of a new operation to address rising illegal mining activities comes at a time when public confidence in the government’s ability to tackle galamsey is waning. Environmental groups, civil society organisations and concerned citizens have repeatedly expressed frustration over the lack of significant progress in curbing galamsey.
The fact that a major water treatment facility like Sekyere Hemang is now struggling to operate due to galamsey activities speaks volumes about the scale of the problem and the inadequacy of current efforts to combat it.
The government’s renewed commitment, while encouraging, must be accompanied by a reassessment of the strategies employed in the fight against galamsey. There is a need for a more sustained and coordinated approach that goes beyond sporadic enforcement. The government must enhance transparency and accountability in its anti-galamsey efforts, ensuring that enforcement actions are not only effective but also fair and consistent.
The time for promises and piecemeal actions has passed. What is needed now is sustained, decisive and transparent action to protect our water bodies and environment. Only then can we begin to restore public confidence and truly turn the tide in the fight against galamsey.
