- Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah calls illegal miners "terrorists"
- Commitment to fight illegal mining and support legal miners
- Concern over severe pollution of water systems, with turbidity levels far exceeding safe limits
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has described illegal miners, or galamsey operators, as “terrorists” endangering the lives of Ghanaians.
At a press conference on Thursday, the Ellembelle MP called for a united effort to stop the harm caused by illegal mining.
“We cannot allow a few individuals to profit at the expense of millions of Ghanaians and put our lives in danger. We must view them as dangerous terrorists,” he stated.
He raised concerns over the severe contamination of the country’s water systems, with turbidity levels reaching 5,000 to 12,000, far exceeding the acceptable level of 500. “We are drinking poison,” he lamented.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s dedication to using all available resources to combat illegal mining, highlighting its devastating impact on forests, water bodies, and farmland.
He emphasized that the government is willing to support legitimate small-scale miners through proper legal channels. “Anyone interested in legal small-scale mining will be guided, licensed, and supported by this government in a responsible and sustainable way,” he assured.
