The Tano North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Pius Samson Opoku, says his administration has taken significant steps to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in the municipality.
He said the perception that authorities are doing little to deal with illegal mining in the area does not reflect the interventions undertaken since he assumed office.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Opoku said the Assembly had introduced several measures to confront the menace and had repeatedly invited the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to support operations in the municipality.
According to him, NAIMOS has been deployed to the area more than eight times as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities.
He said the Assembly had also partnered with mining company Newmont to establish a joint taskforce to monitor mining activities and respond to illegal operations within the municipality.
Mr Opoku argued that the scale of interventions undertaken under his leadership demonstrates his commitment to the fight against galamsey.
“Since I became MCE, the interventions on galamsey, and if I am not exaggerating, I can say that I have made significant strides in the fight against galamsey in Ghana more than anybody else,” he stated.
He acknowledged that illegal mining continues to occur in parts of Tano North but stressed that the Assembly had not been passive in addressing the problem.
Mr Opoku said the repeated deployment of NAIMOS, together with the activities of the Assembly-Newmont taskforce, forms part of sustained efforts to monitor and curb illegal mining.
He therefore rejected suggestions that the continued presence of galamsey in the municipality means the Assembly has failed to act.
“NAIMOS has been brought in more than eight times. The perception is that galamsey is going on, but we are inactive,” he said.
The MCE said the Assembly would continue working with security agencies and other stakeholders to protect the municipality’s natural resources and prevent illegal miners from operating with impunity.
He maintained that the fight against galamsey requires sustained enforcement and collaboration rather than isolated operations, adding that the Assembly remains committed to intensifying its interventions.
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