Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has stated that, 1,400 people have been arrested in just eight months as a result of the government’s stepped-up assault on illegal mining, or galamsey.
In his Wednesday, September 24 appearance on GTV, Mr. Buah compared the number to the 800 arrests made during the previous administration’s almost three-year tenure, claiming that the new approach is producing quantifiable outcomes.
“We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilised Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference,” Mr. Buah said.
The minister emphasized that the government is also developing viable choices for miners who want to operate lawfully, pointing out that enforcement alone is insufficient.
“We are also now providing critical alternatives, and we are saying that if you want to do mining, we are going to give you the training and build your capacity to work with large-scale mining companies,” he said.
Mr. Buah reaffirmed the government’s resolve to pursue a well-rounded strategy that preserves the environment and creates regulated mining industry opportunities.
Source: newsthemegh.com