Lands Minister inspects Ankobra, cites progress in galamsey fight

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inspected a stretch of the Ankobra River in Ghana's Western Region and highlighted significant progress in the government's efforts to combat illegal mining. During his visit, he revealed that over 3,000 illegal mining machines have been removed from major river bodies, while 237 suspects, including 144 foreign nationals, have been arrested.

The operation, known as Operation Water Shield, involves multiple security agencies such as the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Special Boat Squadron, and the Blue Water Guards. These forces have been focusing on dismantling illegal changfa mining operations and securing the riverbanks against armed groups protecting illegal miners.

Permanent security patrols have been established along sections of the river, a shift from previous sporadic raids. Buah dismissed claims of losing the battle against illegal mining, pointing to the revived condition of the Ankobra River as proof of success. He noted that the river, once heavily polluted and impassable, is now navigable and clear along the inspected stretch. This progress is attributed to the sustained security deployments rather than isolated raids.