The Interior Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately repatriate all foreigners arrested for engaging in illegal mining.
This forms part of the government’s intensified efforts to address the galamsey menace. Among other measures, the government has imposed a temporary ban on the Community Mining Scheme and has also revoked all licenses approved after the December 7 general election.
According to the Interior Minister and MP for Asawase, since he took office, more than 100 foreigners have been repatriated for engaging in illegal mining.
Speaking at the first Police Regional Commanders’ Conference in Accra, the lawmaker stressed the government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal mining and other fraudulent activities involving foreigners.
“I have written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that from now on, any equipment found at galamsey sites or in forests must have its tax details traced to the owners,” he said. “If you are renting out your bulldozers or other equipment to galamsey operators while staying at home, we will track the tax records and come for you.”
On the issue of foreigners engaged in illegal activities, the Minister reiterated the government’s strict stance.
“The foreigners we find in our forests — what do we do with them? Since I became Interior Minister, we have repatriated well over 107 foreign nationals caught in fraud and galamsey operations,” he stated.
“I want to make it clear to all Regional Police Commanders that any foreigner found in our forests should be immediately reported to immigration authorities for deportation. Our first option is always to send them back to their countries, and we will not compromise on this.”
The Minister also issued a warning to police officers who fail to act on these directives.
“I have written to the IGP, and I insist that if any commander fails to forward arrested foreigners for repatriation, it will mean they do not want to be part of this regime,” he cautioned.
“In that case, they will be reassigned elsewhere — perhaps to a place where they would not have to deal with galamsey or illegal people conducting activities in our country.”
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has declared an all-out war on illegal mining, saying it poses a serious threat to national security and the environment.
“We must focus on existential threats that demand immediate action to ensure public safety. Illegal mining represents a serious security risk, particularly in our forest reserves and mining communities. In regions like Western North and others, armed criminals have launched brutal attacks on innocent people, including forest guards, without provocation. This lawlessness cannot be tolerated. We are declaring a war on crimes related to illegal mining, and we expect all Regional Commanders to take decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Source: Ghana/StarrFM103.5FM/Benjamin Sackey
