Military will match any resistance to government's fight against galamsey

The Minister for the Environment, Science and Technology has warned that any group or persons that will attempt to impede the work of a joint police-military anti-galamsey taskforce, will be met with an equal measure of force.

Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng launched what has been named "Operation Vanguard" on Monday at Burma Camp. Nine platoons comprising 400 soldiers and policemen will be deployed to parts of the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions where illegal small scale mining activities are rampant, to enforce an existing ban.

It is the next stage in governments clamp down on Galamsey activities which have destroyed vast farmlands and rendered vital sources of water such as the Pra, Birim and Densu rivers heavily polluted.

Addressing a parade of the platoons at the launch of Operation Vanguard, Prof Frimpong Boateng said the move is about the heritage of the Ghanaian people and for the sustenance of a good environment for now and the future generation.

He advised the members of the taskforce to at all times abide by the rule of law and desist from the use of unnecessary force to intimidate people especially those in the area where they will be deployed.

This is not the first time government has deployed security personnel to stop illegal small scale mining, in fact, some of the personnel in times past were accused of providing protection for the same people they had been tasked to remove or arrest. 

The Minister warned the personnel that any connivance with illegal miners or acts of corruption that will compromise the success of the operation will not be tolerated. He stressed their job is to focus on protecting lands, water bodies and the environment and they would be held accountable by government and Ghanaians.

Prof Frimpong Boateng continued that he had information that a group calling itself the Ashanti regional small scale miners association through a press conference has warned against the deployment of troops by government, with a threat to resist any attempt to remove them from the illegal mining sites. He sent a message to the Association that government is open to negotiations on how to streamline their activities for them to operate legally and sustainability. 

The taskforce will however not tolerate any action to impede their work as they have been mandated to use force where necessary, and in a situation where force is used against them, the taskforce will respond with the force required to subdue any hostiles.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu assured small scale miners that government is not against their operations. Rather it wants to put in place measures to ensure they work in a legal and sustainable manner that will protect the environment.