Prioritise matters on illegal mining – Minister charges REGSEC

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor has called on the various Regional Security Councils to prioritise matters relating to the fight against illegal mining in the country.

He said such matters should be key in their regular briefings in an effort to help curb the menace.

Describing the activities of Operation Halt as “only surgical”, he said it was necessary REGSECs take up the responsibility of sustaining the fight against illegal mining.

The new approach, he noted, “is for REGSECs to take charge of the situation and even if the operation halt team leaves no vacuum will be created to give room for the galamseyers to come back.”

Mr Jinapor said this at Cape Coast in the Central Region after a meeting with the Central Regional REGSEC as part of his two-day working visit to the region.

He said it is the determination of the government to ensure that the natural resources of the country benefit everybody and will not allow some few individuals to hold the entire nation to ransom.

For her part, the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan who is also the chair of the REGSEC, said the fight against illegal mining must not be politicised because the pollution caused to the country's river bodies affects all.

She assured Mr Jinapor of the Council's determination to help curb the menace and called for logistical support from the Ministry to assist them fight the illegal miners particularly those on the water bodies.