While the Operation Vanguard has been largely successful, there still remain some problems to tackle in the fight against illegal mining, the president Nana Akufo-Addo has said during his state of the nation address, 2020.

He told a one sided Parliament, after the walkout by the Minority, that his government is not impaired by the “size and scope of the problem of galamsey” but will do whatever it takes to win the war against illegal mining.

His comments come after persons in government, as well as in the party were accused of being part of the illegal mining.

Background

Just when the country was beginning to tap its shoulders for fighting the protracted problem of illegal mining, recent reports and persons alleged to be responsible for illegal mining have left a sour taste in the minds of many.

The Operation Vanguard was set up by the president in 2017 to fight the incidence of illegal small scale mining popularly called galamsey which has fouled the air and waterbeds, destroyed the environment and forest plantations.

Supported by the media coalition against illegal mining, the operation vanguard team achieved some milestone after arresting persons found culpable, seizing machineries and excavators.

The water bodies which were in bad shape, had suddenly begun to witness a new freshness.

Missing Excavators

But the story of the gains being made by the Operation Vanguard was short-lived after it emerged that at least 500 excavators seized by the Operation Vanguard team had gone missing.

Reports indicate some members of the NPP, including regional chairmen had taken over the excavators and had redeployed them into some concessions.

At least five people have since been arrested.

Galamsey Bribery

Again, Charles Bissue,a presidential staffer and a member of the Inter-ministerial Committee set up to assist in the fight against galamsey was also caught on tape by the Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigative team, Tiger Eye PI, accepting what looked like a bribe to enable people to mine illegally.

Mr Bissue has since denied any wrong doing, even though he has relinquished his position as a member of the Inter-ministerial group.

The issue of galamsey had been topical and could not have escaped the attention of the president during his state of the nation address.

He told members of the House, “the battle was not against mining. We cannot say there should be no mining in Ghana,” he said but quickly added “taking the minerals should not lead to destruction of forest and environment.”

SONA 2020

He said the involvement of foreigners, had changed the scope and manner of community mining with the use of “monster machines” which have dire consequences on the environment.

President Akufo-Addo who has been accused by opponents for doing little in the fight against illegal mining disagreed.

He said the government will not shirk its responsibility in the fight against illegal mining, adding “no one involved will be shielded no matter their political coloration.”

He added that operation Vanguard is largely successful even though problems still remain.

According to him, deaths attributable to illegal mining have reduced by more than 90%.

He also noted that the community mining program which was revived after community members were trained in the Tarkwa School of Mines on safe and responsible mining had yielded fruits.