Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor has said that tackling illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, is a gradual process that requires time and effort.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, he urged that combating this issue should not be a partisan battle but a unified national effort.
“It’s a process and not an event. It takes time and effort to bring it under full control. We all need to come together to fight this; it should not be politicized. Once we politicize it, it will inhibit our efforts” he said.
He made this known in response to the escalating impact of illegal mining activities that continue to devastate the environment and disrupt livelihoods across the country.
Mr. Jinapor said the government’s approach is driven by national interest rather than political motivations.
“This matter goes beyond the NDC and NPP. Our motivation is to work in the national interest. It’s not about elections or politics. We are committed to addressing this issue in the best interest of the nation” he stressed.
In response to the worsening situation, President Akufo-Addo has ordered the deployment of both police and military forces to crack down on illegal small-scale mining.
This decision follows a national security meeting to assess the impact of galamsey on river bodies and the environment.
Organised Labour issued a stern warning to the government on Wednesday, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September if decisive action is not taken. Other groups, including religious leaders, have echoed similar concerns and demands for immediate intervention.
But the Minister also noted that, the government is starting with police intervention and will consider deploying the military if necessary.
He acknowledged past efforts to combat illegal mining and stressed the need to review and learn from previous measures.
“We have banned illegal mining before, and we need to examine what worked and what didn’t. We’re doing this in the national interest, and the focus should be on solving the problem, not on election cycles” he added.