Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul says parliament will soon deliberate on the call for a review to extend the red zone for mining activities.

The Akufo-Addo-led-government in its quest to rid the country of illegal mining imposed a ban on all mining activities within a 100-meter range from water bodies and in forest reserves.

Meanwhile, the Bimbilla lawmaker noted that despite the directive by President Akufo-Addo, water bodies are still being polluted by mining activities, therefore the need to amend the directives.

"There are suggestions that we should review the law, the law currently is 100 meters. Suggestions from the arm forces themselves, suggestions from the media and different people that a river body in most times is low ground so when it rains and you mine one kilometre off all the dirt enters into the river.

"So you may clear the river but it will take you four-five years to see clear water because someone is still mining two kilometres off the river so when it rains because it is low ground and the foothills of the river are high grounds it all goes back," he added.  

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the Defence Minister mentioned that a five-kilometre distance will be a safe place to carry out legal mining to ensure an effective fight against the pollution of water bodies.

Mr Dominic Nitiwul urged the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor to consider these suggestions and "look at it and ensure that he takes the law back to parliament and make it five kilometres off the river so that we know that we don’t have anyone mining closer to the river so that we can get our clean water back."   

Commenting on the government's success in clamping down the canker, the Minister observed that since ‘Operation Halt’ commenced, some illegal miners, in their quest to escape being apprehended, have resorted to engaging in their illegalities between 9 pm and 4 am.

“This is a new strategy adopted by the illegal miners. It is risky and as the Minister of Defence, I cannot guarantee their safety should they be caught by the task force.”

He further cautioned persons who operate at night to desist from it.