PHOTO: President John Dramani Mahama
In a bold policy shift, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the anti-galamsey task force to seize and repurpose excavators used in illegal mining instead of setting them ablaze.
“Going forward, I have instructed the task force to confiscate these machines rather than burn them,” Mahama announced at a high-level meeting with the Christian Council at Jubilee House on Friday, February 21.
The new directive comes amid growing concerns over the destruction of heavy-duty equipment and the lack of a structured approach to tackling illegal mining.
“We need a more sustainable and structured solution to this problem, not just destruction,” Mahama emphasized.
He revealed alarming statistics, stating that 43 out of Ghana’s 280 forest reserves have already been degraded by illegal mining.
“We cannot continue to watch as our forests disappear,” he warned.
While cracking down on illegal mining, Mahama acknowledged the economic importance of small-scale mining, noting that about 1.8 million Ghanaians depend on the sector.
“We must balance environmental protection with economic survival,” he noted, assuring that his government is committed to reclaiming affected lands.
Citing recent operations in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, where authorities have seized mining equipment, Mahama made it clear:
“We are taking back control of our lands, but we must do so without reckless destruction.”
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