Government has defended the destruction of mining equipment in the country.
It has also vowed to use all means necessary to curb illegal mining, especially in water bodies and forest reserves.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abudalai Jinapor, has been flying over major rivers in the Eastern, Ashanti, Central and Western Regions and has described the level of destruction as unbelievable.
Interacting with chiefs and people of some mining areas in the Eastern and Western Regions during a stopover at Anyinam and Daboase, Mr. Jinapor urged them to report incidents of illegal mining to the appropriate agencies.
On arrival in Anyinam in the Atewa East District of the Eastern Region, the Lands Minister told residents that government was not against mining but rather illegal mining.
Samuel Abu Jinapor urged them to support the government to win the crusade against illegal mining by playing their watchdog role effectively.
The residents who appeared happy about the government’s fight against illegal mining had some concerns.
As part of phase three of the government’s Operation Halt to fight illegal mining in the area, dozens of mining equipment including excavators have been burnt.
The equipment is owned by miners believed to have violated a directive to halt their activities.
The residents called for an end to the destruction of the excavators.
The forest reserves in these enclaves have also been devoured by illegal mining.
At Daboase, the minister held a mini dialogue with Chiefs, Opinion leaders, and residents on the need to support the fight against illegal mining.
On the sidelines of the trip, the Lands Minister responded to accusations of issuing mining licences and the burning of excavators.
He stated that the level of devastation caused by illegal mining demanded extraordinary interventions.
