I’ll put the military in charge of fighting galamsey under my presidency – Akua Donkor

Madam Akua Donkor, the presidential candidate of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), has promised to use the Ghana Armed Forces to deal with illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.

The Ghanaian farmer and politician said that under her presidency, she would hand over all the various water bodies in the country to the military to manage.

Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Madam Donkor declared that she would seize all mining equipment from illegal miners and hand them over to the military.

Madam Donkor expressed worry that our water bodies have been destroyed and that the situation requires drastic action to help preserve our water bodies and forest reserves.

“I will seize all the machines being used for illegal mining activities and hand them over to the military to manage.

"They will help protect our forest reserves and water bodies and stop all those involved in illegal mining activities. As we speak, the chemicals they use for their illegal mining activities have destroyed our water bodies and threatened human life.

"Ghanaians cannot have access to good drinking water. The contaminated water is now entering our seas and killing the fish in them. We will soon witness shortages of fish because our seas are getting polluted,” she added.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has established a five-member ad hoc ministerial committee to engage stakeholders and assess the government’s efforts in combating illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

According to a notice issued by information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar on Friday, September 13, national security minister Albert Kan-Dapaah will chair the committee, assisted by four other ministers.