The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners has announced plans to redeploy its task force to areas where illegal mining, or ‘galamsey,’ has resumed, causing severe environmental degradation and water pollution.
This decision follows a hiatus in the task force’s operations due to logistical challenges and the shooting of its commander, Major Don Chebe, by illegal miners.
The task force had previously made significant strides in combating illegal mining, including the arrest of over 800 dredgers and a reduction in water turbidity levels from 3000 to 50.
Speaking to Channel One News, the Association’s General Secretary, Godwin Armah, explained that the resurgence of illegal mining has necessitated the task force’s return.
While acknowledging the challenges ahead—particularly in terms of funding and logistics—Armah expressed optimism that with the support of paramount chiefs and the media, the task force could once again make a meaningful impact.
He emphasized the importance of collaborating with traditional leaders to involve local communities in the fight against illegal mining, ensuring a more sustainable approach to protecting the environment.
“The association per our peer review, we have what we call our task force and also the monitoring team. The task force, you remember some time ago, just early, 2023…we started from the source of the Birim and up to where it enters the Pra, we segmented it and we started operations.
“So within two weeks, we were able to get turbidity levels from 2,000 to about 50, at various pump stations from Kyebi area.”
“The Bonsu area were able to get around 100 and something from 3,000, Osino up to Anyinam, and then we went to some part of communities around Akroful area, then straight to Kade. These are the areas where we did a lot of work. And I must say that if you ask the Ghana Water Company, the regional office in Koforidua, they were pleased with the work that we did.
“But this time we are going to work closely with the paramount chiefs so that they call people under them to order. When we get to the communities, we work with them. Some of the assemblies are helping, some are not also helping. But with the support of the media, I think we can go forward.”