Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to deploy effective real-time monitoring systems to enhance surveillance of water bodies in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

He said such systems would provide security agencies with timely information to address galamsey activities both upstream and downstream of rivers.

Mr Nelson made the call after the Western Regional Anti-Galamsey Task Force carried out a major operation along the Ankobra River in the Amenfi Central District.

Following several hours of the raid, the task force seized seven excavators and seven water pumping machines and destroyed makeshift structures at the illegal mining sites.

Mr Nelson said tackling illegal mining downstream alone did not fully address the problem.

“Dealing with the illegal activities downstream does not solve the problem in its entirety. That is why we need a system that scans the full length of the river in real time, so we know what is happening upstream,” he said.

“That is the only way we can properly address the challenge on the river and deal with it more effectively.”

He suggested that the Lands Ministry deploy drone surveillance systems to enable authorities to monitor upstream activities and respond swiftly.

Brigadier General Musah Whajah (Rtd), the Western Regional National Security Liaison Officer, said the task force observed extensive environmental degradation during the operation, particularly along the Tarkwa–Bremen Road.

He said illegal miners had indiscriminately taken over large portions of land, leaving an electricity pole dangerously unsupported.

“It has been shocking to see how the land has been devastated, with people mining and washing directly into the Ankobra River,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Whajah (Rtd) warned illegal miners operating along the Ankobra River in the Amenfi Central District to stay away from the river, stressing that the Anti-Galamsey Task Force would sustain its operations until the desired results were achieved.