Speed Boats To Curb ‘Galamsey’ Menace Arrive

The much-awaited ultra-modern speedboats meant for the patrol duties on the country’s river bodies against pollution, as a result of the activities of illegal miners along the river banks in mining areas, have arrived.

The highly-equipped boats, which arrived over the weekend through the Sekondi Naval Base,are scheduled to be commissioned today at Beposo under Shama District, in the Western Region, by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, together with his Deputy in charge of Mining, George Mireku Duker.

According to The Anchor’s information, the five speedboats will be managed by the Ghana Naval Command and to be supported by permanent River Guards who will be constantly patrolling the banks of the river bodies.

The arrival of the speed boats forms parts of the efforts by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry as well as its agencies,aimed at clamping down on illegal mining activities, which is polluting many of the water bodies countrywide.

The ceremony, expected to be attended by some chiefs and traditional rulers as well as stakeholders in the mining industry, is under the theme: “River Guards & Speed Boats: A permanent solution to Illegal Mining on River Bodies”.

The Mineral Commission, last year, contracted a company to manufacture five unique speedboats.

The boats were specially built to withstand challenges associated with the river bodies in the country, devoid of any hitches.

It is expected that the patrol of these speedboats and the vigorous monitoring of the river guards,wouldhelp curb illegal mining activities popularly called ‘galamsey’on our water bodies.

A Deputy Minister of lands and natural resources,Hon George Mireku Duker,it would be recalled, sometime in March this year,travelled toSouth Africa to inspect progress of works on the assembling of the speedboats to augment Ghana’s strenuous efforts at curbing the illegal-mining sins.

Source: Anchorghana