Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has taken a strong stance against illegal mining, equating galamsey operators to “terrorists”.
The minister who is also the MP for Ellembelle observed that galamsey operators pose a significant threat to the lives of Ghanaians.
This harsh labeling underscores the severity of the issue and the urgent need for action to combat the devastating environmental and social impacts of illegal mining.
He said the government “can’t allow few people to make money at the expense of millions of Ghanaians.”
“We must now begin to see them as dangerous terrorists who are killing us,” he added.
The Minister who was speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, April 3, emphasised the need for a collective effort to put an end to the devastating impact of illegal mining in the country.
“You cannot have a country where your water systems are so polluted that the turbidity levels are 5,000 to 12,000 when it should be 500, it means we are drinking poison,” he bemoaned.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to using all available resources to combat illegal mining activities that have been ravaging forests, water bodies, and farmlands across the country.
The Minister also added that the government is ready to welcome any small-scale miner through the right procedures.
