Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse is the Acting CEO of Environmental Protection Agency
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has announced bold initiatives to rid water bodies in areas where illegal mining is endemic of recalcitrant miners.
Sharing details of her strategy, she stated that her outfit only needed to be fully equipped with helicopters, firearms, and a clear timeline to eliminate illegal mining activities on water bodies across the country.
“All I need is five helicopters, a couple of guns, and just two weeks to eliminate all those polluting our water bodies. I will clear them all. I just need the resources,” she said on UTV on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Prof Browne Klutse further questioned why the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, is not being treated as a war.
She noted that the government by its actions has waged a war against the menace, but law enforcers are up against heavily armed illegal miners.
She also indicated that forest rangers are not adequately equipped to confront the galamsey operators.
She noted that without adequate resources, law enforcement personnel face greater risk when they come face-to-face with armed miners.
Citing the significant resources spent by authorities to secure military escorts during specialised operations in mining areas – she stated that such operations are costly.
She, however, emphasised that with adequate logistics, the fight against galamsey can be successful and harnessed through a tougher approach to deal with offenders.
“Galamsey has been declared as a war. So, why are we not approaching it as a war? EPA needs resources to go to the war front. The galamseyers are operating on the waterbodies fully armed but EPA staff are not armed. Those engaging in monitoring from the Forestry Commission are also not armed,” she lamented.
“Anytime we go for an operation, we have to go along with the military and National Security which is expensive. How many times can we afford to pay them to go out with us? That is where the problem is. So, we need a comprehensive plan. My vision is to clean up our water bodies, which is heavily contaminated to about 90% . I believe we can fight this much better than we are doing now,” Prof Browne Klutse added.
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