Mahama condemns galamsey taskforce; says illegal miners are in business to make a living

President John Mahama has condemned the use of brutal force against operators of illegal mining.

He told a durbar of chiefs and people at Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region that he is not happy when the police and military chase out young illegal miners, who are into the business to make a living.

He made the comment to a rapturous applause by the chiefs and people, who had gathered at the durbar, while on a two-day working visit to the Central Region.

The country has been plagued with the activities of illegal mining with the environment being the worst affected.

After passing through one of the many galamsey sites in the Denkyira traditional area in the Central Region, the president was left disappointed with the extent of damage done to the environment by galamsey activities.

He challenged the youth to search for other jobs but was quick to criticise the modus operandi of the galamsey task force.

The president said the task force will adopt a new strategy to reclaim the lost lands.

According to him, the galamsey operators will all be registered and engaged to refill all lands destroyed by the activities of galamsey.

They will then be paid for their services, he assured.

Additionally, President John Mahama said government is seeking financial support from the World Bank to roll out the new programme.