 |
| On certain aircraft, repair work for anti-galamsey operations has started. |
The government is working with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Airforce (Western Command) to repair some specialized aircraft to conduct intelligence gathering, surveillance, and area recognition in areas where illegal mining is still taking place, which is stepping up the fight against galamsey.
The three aircraft were examined by Mr. George Mireku Duker, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, on Friday at the Takoradi Airforce Base. He noted that they had not been in use since 2014.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is funding the repairs, which are expected to cost 700,000 euros and take six months to complete.
We are making an attempt to crack down on obstinate miners who are out to ruin our industry. We aim to organize and control mining-related operations, he stated.
Mr. Duker asserted that, as opposed to buying brand-new drones and other mining surveillance equipment, fixing the aircraft was a more cost-effective way to aid in the battle against "galamsey."
In order to service the aircraft, among other things, accidents, hard drives, out-of-date software, and engines would need to be replaced.
Mr. Duker praised the Ghana Armed Forces for their assistance and praised the Chamber of Mines for their tremendous and patriotic work in the battle against unlawful mining.
