Tema:In an open letter to Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Spokesperson for the Lands Ministry, addressed concerns about the ongoing battle against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. He argued that declaring the fight lost is premature and overlooks significant efforts being made by the government.
According to Ghana Web, Schandorf emphasized that the perception of failure in the fight against galamsey is misguided. He acknowledged the persistence of the problem but highlighted the substantial measures being implemented to combat it, such as the regulation of excavator imports. From 2017 to 2024, thousands of excavators entered Ghana without proper oversight, but recent policy changes have made their importation more stringent, with over 1,400 excavators now detained at ports due to regulatory challenges.
The letter also discussed efforts to curb the use of changfan machines, which have been particularly destructive to Ghanaian rivers. Authorities have seized or immobilized 1,724 changfans as part of anti-galamsey operations. Schandorf contended that while the results are not immediately visible, the ongoing efforts, policy reforms, and political commitment demonstrate an active and ongoing fight rather than a lost cause.
He invited Barker-Vormawor to visit the Lands Ministry to personally assess the efforts and interventions being deployed, underscoring that the campaign against galamsey is a long-term endeavor. Schandorf reiterated that the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, remains committed to eradicating illegal mining activities in Ghana.