Ghana’s government has deployed hundreds of police and military personnel across the country to deal with illegal mining activities.
The country has struggled to contain the menace for years now as its water bodies and environment are destroyed by individuals engaging in small scale mining illegally.
READ: Ghana gets special courts to deal with illegal mining
Ghana’s president, Akufo Addo declared war on the development since assuming office in January by banning the practice. The latest deployment of security personnel adds to existing efforts.
The task force will for the first phase of this exercise operate in regions most affected by illegal mining.
Some illegal miners had threatened to return to their mining pits in defiance of a ban.
The chairman of the Inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining in Ghana, Professor Frimpong Boateng said any resistance will be met with equal force.
READ: Ghanaians Wage ‘War’ Against Illegal Mining As Water Bodies Dry Up
“My advice to any aggrieved group of people is that, they should not attempt to stampede or use any unlawful means to prevent this taskforce from exercising its mandate.”
There are concerns among some Ghanaians that the taskforce members could harass and molest locals in mining communities.
Ghana’s lands minister, John Peter Amewu told local media Citi Fm that “The forces will not go and beat up civilians or molest communities. There are some miners still on the water bodies so they are going to enforce the laws.
READ: Ghana: Mining pit disaster claims 14 lives
Source: Africafeeds.com
