Joint military, police task force to stop illegal mining in Ghana
Illegal Miners in Ghana
West Africa (Globe Afrique) – On Monday this week, the Ghanaian government ordered a joint military and police task force to limit illegal mining.
The 400-member joint force has been deployed in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions of the country where the situation is severe.
President Nana Akufo-Addo recapped his administration’s pledge to ending illicit mining activities.
The task force known as ‘Operation Vanguard’ comes barely one month after 24 people were trapped and killed in mining pits in the Ashanti and Western Regions of the country.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, at the launching ceremony, urged the troops to operate within the law and not abuse the rights of inhabitants.
“You are going there to protect lives, properties and the environment and that should be your focus,” the minister said.
Government sources say the task force might stay in the illegal mining areas until degraded lands and rivers are restored and the re-afforestation program is undertaken.
