The battle against illegal mining has deep historical roots, and according to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State for Government Communications, understanding its evolution is key to solving it.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints monitored by MyNewsGh, the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese legislator said galamsey has existed for decades, once as a modest livelihood activity, but now as a destructive, heavily financed criminal enterprise.
“In the past, young people used pickaxes to dig for survival. It wasn’t harmful at the scale it is today. Over time, some greedy and selfish individuals invested heavily, recruited people, and armed them,” he explained.
He revealed that by the time the Mahama administration took office, the situation had become dire, with armed groups and foreign nationals taking control of several forest reserves.
“Before this government came to power, nine forest reserves were under the control of armed bandits and terrorists,” he stated. “Those have now been taken back.”
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu pointed to a pattern of neglect by previous administrations, referencing the Prof. Frimpong-Boateng report, which implicated government and party officials in illegal mining activities but was concealed for years.
“Even the report that exposed officials’ involvement was hidden until it leaked before the 2024 elections,” he said.
He emphasized that the current administration has equipped security forces and the National Minerals Operations (NIMOS) to strike without local leaks or interference.
“Today, NIMOS operates quietly to prevent tip-offs. They have mapped out all illegal mining sites and can hit multiple points within a short time,” he disclosed.
