Source: Citi Newsroom
President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that 135 excavators and nearly 200 firearms have been seized as part of efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, more than 8,200 items, including changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining, had also been seized.
Speaking at the Mining in Motion Conference on Monday, October 19, President Mahama said the operation had recorded progress, particularly in clearing illegal miners from forest reserves previously designated as red zones because of the security risks posed by armed miners.
“We have achieved some successes in the fight against illegal mining. We have confiscated more than 8,200 items. This includes changfan machines, excavators and other equipment used in illegal mining,” he said.
“We’ve confiscated 135 excavators that were being used in illegal mining, and we have retrieved almost 200 firearms that the people involved in illegal mining had,” he added.
President Mahama said illegal miners had encroached on 48 of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, with some areas designated as red zones because forest guards could not safely enter them.
He said the government had cleared nine such red zones of illegal miners and was preparing the affected forest reserves for reclamation.
“I’m happy to note that of those nine red zones, we have cleared all of them of illegal miners and are currently preparing those forest reserves for reclamation,” he said.
The President estimated that illegal mining had destroyed approximately 12,000 acres of land across the country, adding that efforts were underway to reclaim degraded areas.
He commended mining company Newmont for its reclamation work on mined-out land, where useful crops had been planted.
President Mahama also praised the Ghana Gold Board for awarding the Ghana Armed Forces a contract to reclaim 253 acres of land destroyed by illegal mining in the Tano Nimri Forest.
“That work is ongoing,” he said.
He further disclosed that GH¢200 million had been allocated for the reclamation of 5,000 acres of degraded land, with the exercise expected to begin next year.
The President commended the Ministers of Lands and Natural Resources and Finance for supporting the reclamation initiative.
On measures to monitor excavators and prevent their misuse, President Mahama said 6,060 excavators had been registered and detained at the ports, while 2,059 had been fitted with tracking devices.
He said the tracking devices would enable authorities to identify where the excavators were being used as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring and enforcement against illegal mining.