The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has donated a pick-up vehicle and two motorbikes to boost efforts to combat illegal mining in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The brand-new pick-up vehicle was presented to the Minerals Commission’s Ellembelle District Office at Azulenloanu, while the two motorbikes were handed over to the Blue Water Guards to enhance their mobility and operational effectiveness in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The presentation was made at a ceremony held at the AYA Community Centre on Sunday, December 28. Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, used the occasion to announce a major restructuring of the Minerals Commission’s reporting system aimed at tightening regulation of small-scale mining activities.
Under the new directive, Minerals Commission officers are required to maintain comprehensive records of all small-scale mining companies operating within their jurisdictions. According to the Minister, officers must have readily available information on the location, operational status, lease details and expiry dates, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits, community permits and water resources permits of all licensed operators.
“As a regulator, you must have at your fingertips basic information about every small-scale mining company operating in your area,” he stressed, urging officers to fully exercise their regulatory mandate to close loopholes that allow illegal mining activities to flourish.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah also called on the Blue Water Guards to strengthen collaboration with the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Police Service to clamp down on illegal miners. He assured the guards in Ellembelle, Jomoro and Nzema East of government support and improved security to enable them to carry out their duties effectively in the coming year.
Receiving the pick-up vehicle on behalf of the Minerals Commission, the Ellembelle District Director, Anita Ama Atiasah, pledged the Commission’s commitment to aligning its operations with the Minister’s vision of protecting water bodies and forest reserves.
“We are aware of your determination to fight galamsey to safeguard our water bodies and forest reserves and protect lives,” she said, adding that the Commission would intensify its regulatory efforts to curb illegal mining in the district.
The Ellembelle District Coordinator of the Blue Water Guards, Stephen Afena, expressed gratitude to the Minister for addressing the long-standing challenge of inadequate transportation, which he noted had hampered effective monitoring of illegal mining activities.
Mr Afena revealed that although the guards had previously succeeded in restoring some polluted rivers within three months, illegal mining later resurfaced. He added that despite threats encountered in the line of duty, the guards remain committed and will intensify operations in 2026.
