Government has achieved “significant strides” over recent months in combating illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey, despite persistent obstacles, according to the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Dr Alhaji Yusif Sulemana.
Addressing reporters on the margins of the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held on Thursday, 6 August, to mark the first anniversary of the Ghana Air Force helicopter disaster, the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi asserted that strategic measures are bearing fruit.
“ The fight against galamsey hasn’t been an easy one. But we have made significant strides in the last few months,” Dr Sulemana stated.
He highlighted that targeted efforts spearheaded by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), alongside the deployment of Blue Water Guards, have successfully enhanced river quality and restored protected woodland areas that were overrun before the present administration assumed office.
The Deputy Minister revealed that approximately nine previously encroached forest reserves have now been recovered.
“Today none of the nine forest reserves is now invaded as they were invaded before,” he noted.
Turning to water security, Dr Sulemana explained that recent sampling from locations monitored by the Blue Water Guards demonstrates declining turbidity levels.
He linked this improvement directly to the ongoing stationing of military forces safeguarding major rivers and aquatic environments.
Furthermore, Dr Sulemana outlined steps to formalise terrestrial small-scale mining activities. “We are regularizing and training those who are not on water bodies and they are not in our forests. Those who are doing that on dry lands, we are regularizing them, certifying them and making them responsible in the work that they do,” he explained.
Conceding that the operation is far from complete, the Deputy Minister indicated that the ministry intends to present comprehensive evidence, data, and visual reports to the public by next year.
“We still have a long way to go in this course. By next year, by this time, we should be able to organize a press conference and tell Ghanaians how far we have come. At that point we should be giving figures, we should be giving visuals,” he said.
The solemn memorial gathering was convened to pay tribute to the eight individuals who lost their lives in the 6 August 2025 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
