In a bid to solve the incessant pollution of water bodies by illegal mining activities, also known as \u2018galamsey\u2019, government says in the coming days it will introduce the use of speedboats and river guards to clamp down on the perpetrators of such activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
River bodies have been officially declared \u2018Red Zones\u2019 for mining, and authorities have suspended reconnaissance, prospecting and exploration in forest reserves except in exceptional circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there are some recalcitrant entities which are still operating on the country\u2019s water bodies, thereby making the rivers and lakes unsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giving a keynote address at the maiden Environmental Sustainability Summit (ESS) organised by the B&FT under the theme \u2018The socio-economic impact of pollution on the environment and natural life\u2019, Deputy Minister, Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio, noted that to efficiently limit polluting activities, the speed-boats will be used by river guards to augment other security activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForest guards of the Forestry Commission have been working with the relevant security agencies to enforce this ban, and we are in the process of recruiting and training river guards to protect our river bodies. In a few days\u2019 time, we are going to launch new speedboats. We are going to use the river guards to chase galamseyers on the river bodies,\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Owusu-Bio also used the occasion to highlight some other major interventions being implemented by the ministry to address challenges in environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ministry has also placed a ban on the manufacture and sale of the floating platforms popularly referred to as \u2018Changfan\u2019, which are normally used for illegal mining within river bodies. In partnership with the Ministry of Defence, \u2018Operation Halt It\u2019 has been launched to support law enforcement measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) has been introduced to provide alternative sources of livelihood for those affected by the fight against illegal mining. Community mining schemes have been revamped and operational manuals developed to promote responsible and environmentally-sound small-scale mining,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deputy minister further expressed government\u2019s commitment to ensuring that the environment is safe, sustainable, devoid of pollutants and activities leading to degradation of natural resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe ministry is fully committed to ensuring environmental sustainability and is ready to partner any institutions which complement its efforts in this direction. We have a collective duty as a people to leave a cleaner, healthier and better environment for our coming generations than we have today,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n