Deputy Lands Minister Pledges To Restore Galamsey-Ruined Rivers If NPP Wins 2024 Elections

• The Deputy Lands Minister claimed if the NPP won the 2024 elections, they would restore the state of rivers in three months
• George Mireku Duker also pledged to small-scale miners that a government led by the party would not ban their operations
• His promise comes amid upset about rampant environmental destruction caused by illegal mining along major water bodies

George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, has promised that if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is given another mandate, it would restore the country’s ruined water bodies in three months.

He said the heavily polluted rivers would all return to their natural state within a quarter of a year under their leadership.

His promise comes amid agitation about the rampant environmental destruction caused by unfettered illegal mining along major water bodies, forest reserves, and farmlands.

Read also

Soldiers begin destroying chanfans, water pumping machines and excavators in renewed galamsey sites

According to Mireku Duker, the government has the capability to rehabilitate the affected water bodies and has put in place measures to rehabilitate them as soon as possible.

He passed these comments at a recent meeting with small-scale miners in the Prestea Huni Valley enclave.

Mireku Duker lamented the politicisation of the galamsey issue, particularly as the 2024 general elections near, arguing that the focus should have been on suggesting effective solutions for the menace rather than political manoeuvring.

He reiterated the NPP’s position that small-scale miners would not be banned under an NPP-led government and said they would be allowed to continue so long as laws were not being flouted.

Government deploys military officers to mining sites

Meanwhile, over 100 armed military personnel have been deployed to various mining communities bordering water bodies in a renewed effort to stop galamsey activities.

Read also

Organised Labour denies claims government bribed them to stop galamsey protest

The action follows growing agitation from civil society organisations and Organised Labour concerning illegal miners' unrestrained destruction of the natural environment, particularly forest reserves and water bodies.

To halt the menace, President Nana Akufo-Addo directed the Defence Minister to deploy additional military forces to augment the Operation Halt forces already in some of these mining communities combating galamsey.

While the specific locations where the officers would be deployed have not been officially disclosed, Citi News reported that the operation may begin in the Eastern Region.

Naval boats are expected to be deployed on the polluted river bodies to enforce an immediate clampdown on all mining activities within and around the rivers.

Minerals Commission blames police for galamsey

YEN.com.gh reported that the Minerals Commission has blamed the Ghana Police Service for the increase in galamsey in the country.

According to the commission's boss, Martin Ayisi, the police have been inactive in the ongoing fight against illegal mining in Ghana.

Read also

Government deploys over 100 soldiers to mining communities to combat galamsey

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh