Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah has revealed a new approach in the fight against illegal mining, with a government-led operation now focused on identifying those who own the heavy machinery fuelling environmental destruction across the country.
As part of President John Dramani Mahama’s intensified crackdown on galamsey, the latest strategy targets the individuals and networks behind the excavators used in these illicit operations.
Speaking on the latest phase of the anti-galamsey initiative, Dr. Boamah shared a key breakthrough: the successful identification of key vehicle details that could help unmask the financiers of illegal mining.
“As promised last month, we are glad to report that some chassis numbers of seized excavators used to perpetrate galamsey—an environmental sin against humanity and God—have been secured,” the minister said.
He credited the Ghana Police Service for their crucial role in the operation, explaining that these unique identifiers provide a path to uncover the people behind the scenes—those who import, purchase, and deploy the equipment used in illegal mining.
“These chassis numbers will aid President Mahama’s determined and sustained fight against illegal mining,” Dr. Boamah affirmed.
“We are using them to contact-trace the owners, asking key questions: Who imported the excavators? Who bought them? For what purpose? Why are they being used for galamsey?”
He stressed that the move marks a strategic shift from simply arresting operators on-site to dismantling the support structures that make illegal mining possible.
This, Dr. Boamah said, reflects President Mahama’s vision for a long-term solution that tackles the problem from its source rather than addressing just its symptoms.
With this new direction, the government aims to restore the country’s degraded lands and hold accountable the powerful individuals profiting from environmental exploitation.
