The Ghanaian military has launched an intensified campaign against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, resulting in the destruction of significant mining equipment on its first day of operation.
Under the government’s “Operation Halt” initiative, soldiers have successfully demolished 18 chanfans, 10 industrial water pumping machines, and an excavator across various illegal mining sites in Ghana.
This crackdown, commencing early Thursday morning, specifically targeted operations in water bodies and protected areas that have long suffered environmental degradation due to galamsey activities.
The destruction of these machines marks a pivotal effort in the national drive to mitigate the severe impacts of galamsey, which include river pollution, farmland destruction, and deforestation throughout the country.
This military action responds to mounting pressure from environmental groups, civil society organizations (CSOs), and concerned citizens urging more decisive measures against illegal mining, which has emerged as a critical environmental and economic challenge in Ghana, threatening its water bodies and agricultural lands.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in response to these demands, has ordered the escalation of Operation Halt, deploying additional military personnel to galamsey hotspots.
Furthermore, he instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to immediately suspend the enforcement of L.I 2462 on mining in forest reserves.
This decision followed discussions with Organised Labour, who had threatened a nationwide strike starting October 10 if the government did not take swift action against illegal mining.
As part of the operation, the military targeted the dismantling of machinery facilitating illegal mining. Among the equipment destroyed, chanfans—large machines used to extract gold from riverbeds—were prominent.
These machines are notorious for their destructive impact on water bodies, dredging riverbeds and releasing toxic chemicals like mercury, which harm aquatic life and pollute water sources. Additionally, soldiers demolished 10 industrial water pumping machines crucial for washing gold-laden sediment from riverbeds.
The destruction of these critical mining tools severely hampers galamsey operations, with an excavator—often used to excavate large pits—also among the equipment set ablaze by the task force.
This proactive military operation underscores Ghana’s commitment to combatting illegal mining and safeguarding its natural resources against further environmental degradation.
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