The Eastern Regional Minister and Chairperson of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Rita Akosua Awatey, has inaugurated a nine-member task force to combat illegal mining, commonly known as “Galamsey,” in the region.
The task force has been assigned a broad mandate to identify and address illegal mining activities while ensuring strict adherence to environmental and mining regulations.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Awatey emphasized that the team must operate without fear or favor, stressing the importance of protecting natural resources.
“This task force must work with a difference, carrying out your mandate with the utmost determination,” she stated.
The task force will focus on identifying illegal mining sites, ensuring legal compliance, making arrests, prosecuting offenders, and seizing mining equipment.
A key aspect of their mission includes preventing the contamination of water bodies and the destruction of forests. Minister Awatey described illegal mining as a major security threat and environmental hazard, stressing the need for immediate action to safeguard human lives and the ecosystem.
She called for community support in gathering intelligence to enhance the effectiveness of the task force and reiterated the government’s stance on preserving forests and water bodies as “no-go areas” for illegal miners.
The Minister addressed the controversial issue of excavator burning, clarifying that the government believes seized excavators should be repurposed for use in District Assemblies rather than being destroyed.
The nine-member task force comprises representatives from various security agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Attorney-General’s office, and other allied institutions.
