Amansie South District Small Scale Mining Task Force Burns Chanfang, Pumping Machine in Crackdown on Illegal Mining

As part of ongoing efforts by the government to combat illegal mining activities on river bodies, the Amansie South District Small Scale Mining Task Force has taken decisive action by burning chanfang machines and pumping equipment used for mining on local rivers.

The exercise, carried out by a joint task force consisting of officials from the Amansie South District Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, Immigration, the National Investigation Bureau (NIB), and the media, is aimed at preserving the country’s water bodies from the destructive effects of illegal mining.

During the operation, which targeted illegal mining sites along the rivers in the district, several machines used by illegal miners, including chanfang dredging machines and water-pumping equipment, were set ablaze to prevent their continued use. This action forms part of the government’s renewed commitment to rid river bodies of illegal mining activities, which have severely polluted water sources in the region.

Speaking to the media after the joint exercise, the Chairman of the Amansie South District branch of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM), Mr. Kwaku Abonee, also known as Osama, praised the initiative but stressed that the government should empower licensed small-scale miners to take a more active role in fighting illegal mining, or “galamsey,” particularly on river bodies.

According to him, small-scale miners, who are legally registered, understand the terrain and have the local knowledge needed to effectively counter illegal mining activities.

He urged the government to empower them to fight the galamsey maniacs