President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military forces to intensify “Operation Halt,” the ongoing effort aimed at curbing illegal mining (galamsey) activities across the country.
As part of the enhanced operation, naval boats will be deployed on polluted river bodies to enforce the immediate cessation of all mining activities, whether legal or illegal, within and around these critical water bodies. This measure is aimed at stopping the environmental degradation caused by galamsey, which has severely impacted the nation’s water sources.
Additionally, the president has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462).
This suspension, effective immediately, will allow for a review of the regulations to ensure they align with efforts to combat illegal mining in protected areas.
“In a bid to enhance legal action against illegal mining activities, four (4) dedicated courts have already been established. The President has further directed the Attorney General to work with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining.”
“Government has urged Organised Labour to encourage all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a pact, committing themselves to the fight against illegal mining as part of their election pledges,” he further stated.
He stressed that President Akufo-Addo remained determined to end galamsey.
Adding, “And calls on citizens, political leaders, and stakeholders to unite in this critical national effort.”
The directive was announced by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Office of the President, in a statement issued on Wednesday, shortly after Organised Labour called off its nationwide strike.
The government’s recent actions come as a response to mounting pressure from Organised Labour and civil society, demanding stronger measures to address the galamsey menace.