The Government of Ghana is ramping up its crackdown on illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey, by strengthening “Operation Halt,” an initiative led by the Ghana Armed Forces.
In a major development, the Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana will now be actively involved in the operation, bringing new momentum to the ongoing fight to protect the country’s river bodies and forest reserves.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information reinforced the government’s commitment: “Government in its continued efforts to clamp down on the long-standing menace of illegal small-scale mining has concluded operational measures to intensify the ongoing ‘Operation Halt,’ which is led by the Ghana Armed Forces, to rid our river bodies of all forms of mining activities.”
Initially launched in April 2021, Operation Halt II aimed to remove illegal miners and their equipment from major rivers like Pra, Offin, Ankobra, Birim, and Ayensu, as well as forest reserves. The operation was designed to safeguard these vital natural resources by decommissioning or seizing mining equipment as necessary. While the operation saw initial success, with some rivers showing signs of recovery, enforcement was temporarily relaxed as the situation improved.
Despite these gains, illegal mining activities continued, prompting the government to relaunch Operation Halt II in 2022 with renewed urgency. The Operation Halt II team was given clear instructions to act without external interference.
While some progress has been made, the persistence of illegal mining remains a significant challenge. The government hopes that the inclusion of the Small-Scale Miners Association in this phase will bring fresh energy to the initiative.
“Government reiterates its commitment to the fight against illegal small-scale mining and calls on all stakeholders to join the fight,” the statement concluded.
