A member of the NDC’s Communications team, Hamza Suhuyini Sayibu has said government cannot go public with its strategic actions and plan to deal with galamsey, citing security reasons.
Sayibu said the galamsey menace is a matter of national security and putting out the strategy could jeopardize government’s effort as persons neck-deep in the canker would take advantage and prepare against the implementation of the strategy.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 New Day’s Big Issue, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Suhuyini Sayibu said he does not doubt that government has a strategy to fight galamsey which he believes is only discussed at high-level government meetings.
“The fight against galamsey is also tied to our national security. The strategy is undoubtedly there but it may not be in your interest, security-wise for that strategy to be made public, because immediately it is made public because of these leakages with our national security, you are likely to even jeopardize it before it commences.
“We must appreciate that fact. It is not just an ordinary fight, we are dealing with a situation that has potential risk for the stability of this country.
“So, undoubtedly there is a strategy but it is not a strategy that must be made public for unscrupulous people to take advantage and even begin to beat the government and prepare for government in terms of implementation of that strategy,” he asserted.
Suhuyini noted that although the strategy cannot be made public, Ghanaians are witnessing the steps and decisions taken by government to deal with galamsey.
While citing reports of military officers reclaiming forest lands and government’s decision to temporarily freeze on mining licenses for small-scale mining, he said government is dealing with galamsey in a “controlled manner.”
“It is not an activity that can be done in just a matter of three months. We appreciate that and that is why in the heat of the campaign we never promised the good people of this country that we are going to solve illegal mining in a matter of three months or a year so the fight is ongoing,” he noted.
Meanwhile, President Mahama has launched The Tree for Life initiative which seeks to create awareness about the importance of trees in protecting the environment, combat the effects of climate change, restore lands and rivers degraded by galamsey activities, and instill in Ghanaian youth a spirit and desire to protect the environment.
Also, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has launched the Blue Water River Guard training program, an innovative module under the Blue Water Initiative which will equip 2,000 Ghanaian youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to safeguard Ghana’s river bodies effectively.
The first phase of the project will involve 400 young Ghanaian men and women undergoing rigorous training by the Ghana Navy Riverine Command under the auspices of the Minerals Commission. This training will provide them with the expertise needed to combat illegal mining operations on river bodies.
Source: 3news.com