Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker, has disclosed government’s readiness to establish district mining committees to address illegal mining in the country.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, he said the yet-to-be instituted committees would be assigned to report on the progress of illegal mining in the communities on a daily basis.

“Practically, what we are also doing is to institute district mining committees who will be tasked to run around and give us reports every day as to how they are fighting their respective illegalities in the rivers of the various districts,” he said.

This comes after concerns over pollution of river bodies across the country as a result of illegal mining activities.

The Ghana Water Company for instance, has blamed illegal mining partly for the current shortage of water in the country.

According to Mr. Duker, “practical measures are being put in place to combat the canker.”

“We are not leaving a chance, we are making sure that we fight this canker,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said other plans have also been put in place by government to ensure that the river bodies are safe.

“Government is now bringing in speed boats that would be manning the river banks and river bodies, we would continue with operations of operation halt 2 in a way to also patrol with helicopters. So we are leaving no stone unturned,” he said.

He, thus urged the media to back the fight to combat the galamsey menace in the country.