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Cape Coast – The Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have issued a statement, fervently appealing to all well-meaning Ghanaians, urging them to support President Mahama’s policy measure of permanently deploying the Military to all illegal mining endemic regions across the country.
According to their statement, President Mahama’s policy measures to combat illegal mining are unparalleled and worthy of commendation.
In a press statement issued and signed by them on September 20, 2025, they commended the government’s initiatives – recruitment, training, and deployment of 980 personnel to the Western and Savannah regions as an effort to combat illegal mining activities. They added that the government’s efforts to double up Blue Water Guard personnel, bringing the total force to 2,000, was timely.
They therefore argue that these and other well-intentioned government measures would contribute to combating the issue of illegal mining and its attendant destruction of Ghana’s ecological zones, including water bodies, farmlands, and the entire natural environment.
Notwithstanding the above, they are urging all Civil Society Organizations, including the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference (GCBC) and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), to strive to mobilize support for the administration of John Dramani Mahama to protect Ghana’s natural environment from the devastating effects of illegal mining activities, rather than adopting a political stance.
Below is the full press release:
Press Release
To All Media Houses
The Gallant Cadres of NDC
0208573712
0243179445
0542002741
0546572070
The Military Must Occupy All Galamsey Sites; we must eschew politicization of the canker
President Mahama Administration’s fight against Galamsey Is unmatched. Declaring Galamsey sites a security zone will be more effective tackling destruction of water bodies, farmlands and the entire natural environment in Ghana. The Civil Society Organizations like Catholic Bishop Conference, UTAG must endeavour to genuinely support John Dramani Mahama’s administration to safe Ghana’s natural environment from the ravages of Galamsey Activities instead of taking a political stance. It looks as if per the stance of Catholic Bishop Conference, UTAG and others that upon the call for declaration of state of emergency on mining will stop the destruction of water bodies and farmlands in just a week. Clearly, Ghana needs to confront illegal mining activities from multifaceted approach.
The John Mahama’s administration is aggressively Confronting illegal mining activities in Ghana. Of Ghana’s 288 forest reserves, 44 had previously suffered varying degrees of destruction from illegal mining. Notably, 9 reserves had been declared ‘no-go’ zones due to the presence of armed groups.
Through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and with support from security agencies, the government have successfully repossessed all 9 of these red-zoned areas.
Over the weekend, the Jimira Forest Reserve and the Anwia Futu section of the Offin Shelterbelt were invaded by illegal miners. The military is working with NAIMOS to repossess the forest reserves. The Blue Water Guards Initiative:
980 personnel have been recruited, trained, and deployed in the Western and Savannah regions. They conduct daily operations on major river bodies, serving as community vanguards to ward off illegal mining activities.
An additional 1,020 personnel will be recruited and deployed by the end of the year, bringing the total force to 2,000 Blue Water Guards.
The next phase focuses on de-chemicalizing and restoring our water bodies to their pristine states. Feasibility studies for this critical restoration effort are currently underway.
Equipment Tracking: In collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance (GRA-Customs Division), and the Ports and Harbours Authority, we have instituted a system for the proactive tracking of all imported excavators and earth-moving equipment from their point of entry.
1,200 excavators are going through the permitting process from the Transport Ministry, clearance from Customs, registration with DVLA, and tracking at MINCOM.
So far, we have registered 1,015 earth-moving and mining equipment, and 647 have been registered and fitted with tracking devices. There are an additional 600 equipment at the port awaiting clearance.
An additional 350 tracking devices are expected by September 12, 2025, to enhance this monitoring effort.
Comrade Richard E A Sarpong, Father Casford. The PRO, 0208573712
Ohemaa Akosua Borngreat, Deputy PRO, 0243179445
Mr F Kadan, Secretary, 0242276044
Mr Eric Takyi, Deputy Secretary, 0546572070
Mr Carrick Kpeglo, Chairman. 0542002741
