The Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Mr. Joseph Nelson, has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) to deploy effective, real-time monitoring systems to ensure comprehensive surveillance of rivers affected by illegal mining activities.
He made the call following a major joint security operation that led to the seizure of seven excavators and several water-pumping machines from illegal mining sites along the Ankobra River in the Amenfi Central District.
The operation, carried out early on Saturday, was led by the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd.), with support from the Second Infantry Battalion, the Western Naval Command and National Security operatives.
Speaking on the outcome of the operation to Journalists, Brigadier General Whajah said the joint task force had intensified operations upstream after months of downstream patrols from the Gwira area to the Ankobra estuary yielded limited impact on illegal mining activities.
He explained that the operation commenced at about 5:15 a.m. and targeted several active mining sites along the Tarkwa–Bremen road, where extensive environmental destruction was observed.
According to him, illegal miners had excavated land indiscriminately, leaving an electricity pole dangerously unsupported and hanging, while a mining pit located less than a meter from the main road posed a serious risk of collapse, threatening the safety of road users.
The operation also revealed that mining activities had continued despite warning signposts erected by the rightful landowners, the Awuah family, and repeated complaints from residents in the area.
During the exercise, personnel of the Second Infantry Battalion dismantled and burnt makeshift mining structures on land, while officers of the Western Naval Command encountered difficulties launching their patrol boat on the Ankobra River due to severe siltation.
Brigadier General Whajah noted that sections of the Ankobra River that were previously navigable had become extremely shallow, forcing the naval team to resort to the use of a small wooden canoe.
He added that waste and polluted water from the mining sites were being discharged directly into the main river.After several hours of sustained operations, the joint task force retrieved seven excavators and seized seven water-pumping machines from illegal mining sites along the river.
In an interview after the operation, Mr. Joseph Nelson stressed that dealing with illegal mining activities downstream alone would not resolve the problem entirely, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive and technologically driven approach.
“Dealing with illegal activities downstream does not solve the problem in its entirety. We need a system that will scan the full length of the river in real time so that we know what is happening along the entire stretch,” the Regional Minister said.
Mr. Nelson noted that government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has intensified the fight against illegal mining by strengthening regulatory enforcement, supporting inter-agency security operations, reclaiming degraded lands, and promoting responsible, licensed mining practices across the country.
He said the Ministry continues to collaborate closely with the Minerals Commission, the Forestry Commission, security agencies and traditional authorities to clamp down on illegal operators, protect forest reserves and safeguard vital water bodies such as the Ankobra River.
The Regional Minister explained that the deployment of modern surveillance tools, including drone technology, would complement these efforts by enabling authorities to monitor upstream activities in real time and respond swiftly to emerging threats.
“If we are able to deploy an effective drone system, we should be able to appreciate what is happening upstream. Despite our efforts, the turbidity of the Ankobra River has not changed much, and that tells us the problem persists,” he added.
Mr. Joseph Nelson assured that REGSEC would continue to work with all relevant agencies to sustain operations in the Amenfi areas as part of broader national efforts to curb illegal mining and protect the environment.
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The post Galamsey: Western Regional Minister calls for Real-Time River Surveillance appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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