The Minerals Commission (MC) has endorsed President John Mahama’s approach to addressing the galamsey menace.
The President, on Tuesday, set up an inter-ministerial taskforce with the mandate to flush out all those involved in illegal mining across the country and deport foreigners engaged in the trade.
The five-member task force will work in a coordinated manner with the military and the police to arrest and prosecute Ghanaians and foreigners engaged in illegal mining.
It is also charged to hold metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives and their respective district security committees accountable for any illegal mining activity in their areas of jurisdiction.
The inter-ministerial committee is chaired by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, with the Minister of Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Woyongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, as members.
Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Ben Aryee says the approach is right in dealing with the galamsey issue.
He intimated that no single institution can manage the illegal mining issue all by itself.
He stated that the Commission will continue to play its role of sensitising people on the need to regularise their operations, and also work closely with other agencies to prevent gaps that can be exploited.
Defense Minister Mark Woyongo, a member of the committee says soldiers are ready to work with other agencies to execute the task.