President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has formed a five-member ministerial ad-hoc committee to evaluate the government's ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining, also known as "galamsey."

The committee has been given the responsibility of reviewing the effectiveness of the measures implemented to address the environmental damage caused by illegal mining across the country.

Comprising senior government officials, the committee will assess the current strategies and policies aimed at halting galamsey activities and recommend any necessary reforms to strengthen the government’s efforts.

Additionally, they will examine the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and local authorities in their fight against illegal mining.

Leading the committee are National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Employment Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and Information Minister Fatima Abubakar as members.

This assessment is a key part of the government's ongoing commitment to protecting the environment and curbing illegal mining, with the committee expected to provide insights that will shape future initiatives.

This is not the first time the government has set up a committee to tackle illegal mining. The inter-ministerial task force against illegal mining led by the former Environment and Science Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng ended in a dramatic manner forcing him to resign his role as the Chair of the Committee.

This latest attempt by the government comes due to increasing public pressure as rivers and forest reserves have been damaged raising health concerns and a possible water crisis shortly.