Seized 'galamsey' pumps redirected to farmers to strengthen irrigation - Dumelo

Government has handed thousands of water pumps seized from illegal mining sites to farmers across the country to bolster irrigation activities aimed at improving yields.

The move forms part of practical steps to turn around long-standing environmental degradation challenge caused by illegal miners known locally as galamsey operators into a fruitful venture by harnessing equipment seized from them [galamseyers].

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According to a myjoyonline.com report on March 9, 2026, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture John Dumelo shared the details during a recent interview about Ghana's food security 69 years after independence.

He explained how the initiative is a quick, hands-on way to boost irrigation and help farmers produce more food, even during dry seasons when rainfall patterns are unreliable.

“With the irrigation, in the short term, the galamsey pumps that we have seized, we have distributed over a thousand pumps to farmers across the country to be able to irrigate their farms,” he said.

For many small-scale farmers, especially those growing vegetables, maize, or other crops that need consistent water, these pumps arrive as real relief.

Instead of relying solely on unpredictable rainfall, they can now water their fields reliably, extend growing seasons, and increase yields to feed their families and sell in local markets.

It's a tangible step toward making farming more resilient in communities hit hard by climate variability and the fallout from illegal mining.

Dumelo was clear that this is only a short-term fix while bigger projects take shape.

“In the medium and long term, that is when we are developing the Kpong Left Bank; these are huge irrigation schemes that might take a little time to fully complete and function,” he added.

Greater efforts, like expanding schemes in the north, such as around Tono Dam, and rolling out solar-powered pumps, aim to build lasting infrastructure.

He explained that repurposing equipment seized during anti-galamsey crackdowns shows a creative way to support agriculture without waiting years for new dams or canals.

The move also highlights the government's broader push to tackle farming challenges head-on, from land degradation caused by galamsey to the need for better tools and water access.

By redirecting these pumps to legitimate farmers in non-mining areas, authorities are not just cleaning up environmental damage but actively helping people put food on tables and money in pockets.

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As Ghana continues the fight against illegal mining and works toward greater food sovereignty, stories like this remind many that solutions can sometimes come from turning problems into resources one pump at a time.

NA/VPO

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