Ghana’s Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has announced the deportation of 107 foreign nationals caught engaging in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, and other fraudulent activities. This decisive move underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources and cracking down on unlawful operations involving foreigners. The Minister made this declaration at the Police Regional Commanders’ Conference, where he reiterated the government’s stance on illegal mining and fraud.
In his address, the Interior Minister emphasized that moving forward, all foreign nationals caught in illegal activities would face automatic deportation without exception. He also highlighted new measures to trace and hold accountable those who rent out heavy-duty equipment for illegal mining operations. “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,” he warned. This approach seeks to dismantle the networks that facilitate illegal mining and ensure that both foreign and local accomplices face the full force of the law.
The Minister further instructed Regional Police Commanders to promptly report any foreign nationals found engaging in illegal activities to immigration authorities for immediate repatriation. He warned that police officers who fail to comply with this directive would face reassignment. “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. With this firm stance, the government aims to deter illegal foreign involvement in Ghana’s mining sector and reinforce its crackdown on galamsey.
