Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Nti Leads Anti-Galamsey Team to Impound Excavators, Issues Stern Warning to Illegal Miners
The fight against illegal mining in Ghana, commonly referred to as galamsey, intensified over the weekend as Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Nti led a high-powered anti-galamsey task force to clamp down on destructive mining operations. In a decisive move, the team impounded several excavators being used unlawfully within protected forest reserves.
The operation, carried out with military precision, forms part of ongoing efforts by the government to safeguard Ghana’s environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves that have been under serious threat from illegal mining activities. Hon. Nti, who supervised the exercise, emphasized that the country cannot continue to bear the environmental and social costs of galamsey.
Speaking after the swoop, he issued a stern warning to all illegal miners still operating within Ghana’s reserves to vacate immediately or face the full rigors of the law. “This country cannot sacrifice its future for the selfish gains of a few. We will not relent in this fight. Anyone still engaged in galamsey should desist before it is too late,” he cautioned.
The impounding of the excavators sends a strong signal to illegal miners that government’s renewed resolve against galamsey is not just rhetoric but backed by action. Communities across the country have long complained about the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and forests, as well as the health risks posed by chemical pollution from illegal mining.
Environmentalists and community leaders have welcomed the crackdown, describing it as a necessary step to protect Ghana’s natural resources for future generations. They have, however, called for sustained enforcement, strict prosecution of offenders, and viable livelihood alternatives for local youth who often turn to illegal mining out of economic desperation.
With the stakes so high, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Nti’s leadership on the ground signals a renewed chapter in Ghana’s war against galamsey. The message is clear: illegal miners must either abandon their activities voluntarily or be flushed out through forceful action.
