Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah
The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has disclosed that the government has intensified its fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, by tracing the owners of excavators seized during recent operations.
According to him, the chassis numbers of the confiscated machines have been secured and are currently being investigated to uncover the identities of individuals behind the environmentally destructive activities.
“We’re using these chassis numbers to contact-trace the ‘big people’ who own the heavy-duty equipment used for galamsey,” Dr Boamah stated.
The ongoing investigations, according to him, seeks to answer critical questions, including who imported and purchased the excavators and for what purpose.
In a Facebook post, Dr Boamah emphasised that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the networks that fuel illegal mining, which he described as “an environmental sin against humanity and God.”
Dr Omane Boamah, however, commended the Ghana Police Service for its role in the ongoing efforts and called for sustained collaboration among all state institutions.
He reiterated the government’s comprehensive approach, targeting not just the miners on the ground but also the financiers and systems that facilitate galamsey operations.
MRA/AE