KEY POINTS
- Nine suspected illegal miners were arrested in Prestea as part of the ongoing Operation Halt initiative.
- The suspects were found mining in prohibited areas and using unauthorized equipment.
- Authorities aim to crack down on illegal mining activities that harm the environment and economy.
Nine persons have been arrested by authorities in Ghana for allegedly participating in the operation of ‘galamsey’ in Prestea Nakaba. The arrests were conducted during a recent operation by security forces under the government’s Operation Halt, aimed at fighting the widespread and growing problem of illicit mining in the country.
The suspects were arrested for alleged unauthorized mining in prohibited zones without the required authorization. The officials stated that the miners were using mechanical equipment and tools that are prohibited under the rigorous mining laws of Ghana.
Operation halt targets illegal mining
Jungle justice is a government focused process sought at curbing illicit mining in various states in Ghana including the Prestea area which has been massively impacted by the unauthorised practice. This operation include the use of the military, police and all other relevant institution to address the problem of galamsey which is a menace to the current environmental disasters and water source pollution.
The act of illegal mining has recently been on the rise in Ghana, with many of the country’s rivers and forests being affected by the toxic impact of the activity. The Prestea Nakaba area where the arrests were conducted has been known to be one of the most active areas in the country in the production of the minerals through the prohibited means hence the increased operations in the area.
According to Ghanaweb the Operation Halt team claimed they arrested several excavators which are common in the process of illegal mining. These machines are most often accused of destroying the environment by chopping down trees, issuing dirty water, and other vices.
Government increases pressure
The government has time and again restated its stand against the vice of illegal mining which not only pollutes the environment but also the economy of the country. Illegal miners work without paying necessary taxes and royalties that could help the state get funds. Further, the amalgam used in the process includes mercury which is a health risk to people living nearby.
When asked about the recent arrests, an Operation Halt official said that there is need to ensure that the mining laws are implemented and violators prosecuted. ‘The government has zero tolerance for illegal mining and we shall remain committed to combating the vice to protect our natural resources,’ the representative said.
Reaction from local people is also divided, as while some people support the government action against the destroying of the natural resources, to the others many of those miners are just trying to survive and get a job in the country with very high unemployment rate.
However, the authorities continue to argue that this activity has to be stopped because its consequences are much worse for the country in the long run.
Environmental and economic impacts of Galamsey: the case of Ghana
This paper discovered that legal mining has imparted the environment in Ghana especially through destruction of the rain forest and pollution of the Pra and Birim rivers. These rivers supply water for people who live close to them, but currently, they are considerably contaminated by chemicals released during unlawful mining.
The social cost of galamsey is also felt economically. Although it offers employment to many people, the lack of regulation in the practice denies the government huge revenues from mining. Also, the social impact of a tarnished environment through illegal mining can reduce crop yield hence the livelihood of farmers in the proximate areas.
A future of hope
However, through policy measures such as Operation Halt the government has not relented on legalising mining thus there is still hope in the future. Offenders are being arrested and banned equipment are being confiscated to ensure that affected land are reclaimed together with natural resources preserved for future generations.
In addition to the government’s general environmental conservation plan, there are also ongoing afforestation activities to restore land that has been degraded by the activities of illegal miners. Further, ‘anti galamsey’ crusade is deemed to be carried out to publicize the ill effects of the practice and to inform the societies of the legal requirement on mining in Ghana.
The war against the menace of illegal mining is not over yet, but with enhanced vigor in the fight and support from the people, Ghana should start looking forward to a day when its environment and economy bounce back.
