President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has intensified the fight against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, by deploying police and military forces to crack down on the destructive practice.
This decisive action followed a National Security Meeting to evaluate the devastation galamsey has wreaked on Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and environment.
“The destruction of our natural resources must end, and lawbreakers must be brought to justice,” government officials stated, as the nation faces growing pressure from citizens to stop the environmental crisis.
Galamsey has long been a thorn in the country’s side, with operators flouting laws and using heavy machinery to extract gold at the expense of Ghana’s ecological future.
Despite years of government efforts, including the 2017 Operation Vanguard, the illegal activity persists, polluting rivers with mercury and damaging farmlands.
Recent protests have heightened the urgency for tougher enforcement, leading President Akufo-Addo to authorize the armed forces’ involvement as a key step toward restoring environmental balance.
The move is seen as a major escalation in the government’s efforts to restore order, and citizens are watching closely to see if this time, the perpetrators will truly be held accountable.
The devastation caused by galamsey continues to take lives and livelihoods, but with the security forces now in action, there is renewed hope that a permanent solution may finally be within reach.
