The Defence Minister-designate, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has stressed the need for diverse strategies to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, rather than depending solely on military deployment.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Dr. Omane Boamah believed that exploring multifaceted approaches to combat illegal mining could minimise the number of individuals involved in the menace.
“The fight against galamsey should not be viewed purely through the lens of soldiers going to fight it,” Dr Boamah stated. He argued that illegal mining is a complex challenge requiring a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying socioeconomic drivers.
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“We need to engage the people and inform them of the other livelihood programmes and their benefits,” he added, pointing to alternative livelihood initiatives as a critical component of the solution.
“So the numbers will reduce, and those that will be left won’t overwhelm the police,” he said.
Dr. Omane Boamah further suggested that a combination of modern technology and strategic military involvement would strengthen efforts to combat the remaining illegal activities.
He ended by calling for an inclusive approach to tackle illegal mining, which has become a national canker.
“We need to fight galamsey as a comprehensive thing and bring in the military in addition to modern technology to help them deal with it,” he added.