The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has donated a pick-up vehicle and two motorbikes to strengthen the fight against illegal mining in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region.
The brand-new pick-up was presented to the Minerals Commission’s Ellembelle District office at Azulenloanu, while the motorbikes were handed over to the Blue Water Guards to enhance their operational capacity against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
At a ceremony held at the AYA Community Centre on Sunday December 28, Armah-Kofi Buah , who is also the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, directed a major restructuring of the reporting system within the Minerals Commission to tighten regulation of small-scale mining activities.
Under the directive, Minerals Commission officers are required to account for all small-scale mining companies operating within their jurisdictions. “As a regulator, you must have at your fingertips basic information about small-scale mining companies such as their location, status, lease and expiry dates, EPA permits, community permits and water resources permits,” the Minister stated.
He charged officers to fully utilise their regulatory powers to streamline operations in the mining sector and eliminate loopholes that allow illegal mining to thrive.
The Minister also urged the Blue Water Guards to work closely with the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Police Service to clamp down on illegal miners, assuring the guards in Ellembelle, Jomoro and Nzema East of government support and improved security to enable them carry out their mandate in the New Year.
Receiving the vehicle on behalf of the Minerals Commission, the Ellembelle District Director, Anita Ama Atiasah, pledged the Commission’s commitment to align its work with the Minister’s vision to protect water bodies and forest reserves.
“We are aware of your will and vision to fight galamsey to protect our water bodies and preserve forest reserves to protect lives,” she said, adding that the Commission would intensify its efforts to prevent illegal mining in the district.
The Ellembelle District Coordinator of the Blue Water Guards, Stephen Afena, thanked the Minister for addressing the long-standing challenge of inadequate transportation, which he said had hindered effective monitoring of illegal mining activities.
Mr. Afena noted that although the guards had previously restored some polluted rivers within three months, illegal mining activities later resumed. He added that despite threats faced in the line of duty, the guards would intensify operations in 2026.