Government has sent a strong signal to companies exploiting their legal mining licences.

The Defence Ministry said it has uncovered a number of companies engaging in illegal activities that destroy water bodies despite obtaining clearance from the relevant authorities.

“Some of them say ‘we have mining lease. We have mining lease so you cannot touch us.’ But what they do not know is that we are not touching the mining licences, it’s the illegality that we’re touching." Minister, Dominic Nitiwul said.

This comes in the wake of criticisms that the ‘Operation Halt’ team is supervising the destruction of equipment of legitimate entities.

The taskforce's mandate is to remove all persons, machines and logistics involved in mining on the water bodies.

Earlier this week, management of XtraGold Mining Limited complained about the burning of their excavators by the military, which they claim falls outside the task force’s mandate.

According to its CEO, Kate Gyamfuah, who also doubles as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Women’s Organiser, the company may be considering redress in court “if need be”.

While briefing the media on the outcome of Operation Halt III, Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul explained that the operation is not limited to illegal miners but also companies recognised by the Lands Ministry whose activities devastate water bodies.

"Our target is to protect the water bodies and their tributaries, not their licences. Yes, you can have a licence but if you are destroying a water body, the soldiers are supposed to make sure that they take out the equipment that you're using," he explained.

Mr Nitiwul said another company, Kibi Goldfields Limited, which was found to be exploiting licences granted by Ghana Water Resources, saw their equipment burnt for diverting water to pollute nearby rivers.

"May be because they don't have a political voice, they were not making noise. But their equipment were destroyed as well," he added.