During his unexpected visit to the Offin-Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region’s Nkawie forest district on Monday, February 24, the Lands Minister warned the media that no illegal miner, regardless of political affiliation, will escape punishment if they are discovered mining in a restricted area, such as a forest reserve or a body of water.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, is steadfast in his resolve to put an end to illicit mining. But the minister has begun to get odd calls from influential people who want to meddle in the battle against the national threat of galamsey.
But according to him, they are coming after all of them.
“You have a choice. Leave now or be arrested along with your co-conspirators”.
According to him, investigations are already underway to find the individuals involved, including miners, their financiers, and excavator rental companies. As a result, the minister has promised that they will all be subject to the full force of the law.
“Let me warn those trying to intervene on behalf of Chinese nationals arrested for illegal mining. Yesterday, I received one of those calls, and I made it clear: the only person who can instruct me to release them is the President of the Republic … And let me assure you, the president will not call anybody,” he said.
Galamsey Fight: Partisan Politics Is A Big Problem!
A joint military-police task force has effectively driven out all illegal miners from the Offin-Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Nkawie forest district as a result of the government’s stepped-up efforts to combat galamsey.
At least 15 excavators used in galamsey mining have been seized, and some culprits have been arrested.
