The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has said that, Operation Halt II (OP HALT II) deployed to fight illegal mining in forest reserves and river bodies continue to undertake operations to clamp down on illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey in the country. In a press release from GAF, it said, the teams conducted major surgical operations in the Central, Western, and Ashanti Regions and through that, the turbidity of some major rivers was improved.
According to the statement, the Southern Command Team in the latter part of 2022, conducted its operations in the Central and Western Regions with areas covered such as Ayamfuri, Wassa Akropong, Prestea, Essiama, Asankragua, Enchi and Twifo Praso among many others. The statement said, the team arrested 13 illegal miners comprising one Chinese, two Ghanaians, and 10 Burkinabes who have been handed over to the Police for prosecution. They also destroyed a total of 315 changfans, seven pumping machines, and several temporal structures while 10 excavators were seized. In the Central Command area of responsibility, personnel conducted limited operations in the first quarter of the year in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region with logistical support from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council. In all, 115 changfans, 51 generator sets, 90 water pumps, and some illegal structures were destroyed and an excavator immobilised.
It would be recalled that, Operations Halt II was relaunched on Tuesday 11 October 2022 to clamp down on illegal mining in forest reserves and on river bodies in the country. The Ghana Armed Forces has assured the general public of its commitment to the fight against illegal mining on river bodies and in the forest reserves.