The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has assured of government's commitment to protecting the country's natural resources.

According to the sector Minister, records have shown that previous governments have been complacent in the fight against "galamsey" after chalking some successes. This challenge, he said, will not be repeated by the Akufo-Addo-led government.

Speaking on GBC Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Mr Jinapor disclosed that government will this year, enhance measures put in place to fight illegal mining.

"The most important aspect of the effort of the government, for that matter, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is that all the measures we are putting in place are going to be sustained. We are not going to relent.

What has happened in the past, I don't mean the past that has to do with President Akufo-Addo's administration alone, but in the long past, you have the measures put in place and within a year or two, then the momentum is lost and people look away, then there is a resurgence of illegal mining.

We are going to be relentless, totally committed and this year, all the measures we have put in place are going to be enhanced," he assured.

Meanwhile, the Damongo legislator says the NPP government has made some gains in the galamsey fight since assuming office in 2017.

“We will also have to admit that we have made considerable gains and we have gotten to a point where we can reasonably be encouraged that a better framework and the building blocks have been put in place to deal with this menace.

“I’m talking about matters to do with how you acquire licenses, whether you do that online, the whole issue of community mining, inspectorate division of the Minerals Commission, issues to do with exploration for mineralized concessions."

Nonetheless, Mr. Jinapor admitted that government is not satisfied with what has been achieved so far. Thus, it will strengthen its efforts.

“We are not out of the woods yet. We have not gotten to a satisfactory stage yet. We have not gotten to a situation we can say that we have a full grip on the issue of illegal small scale mining in our country.

“I’ll be the first to admit that it wouldn’t take 4,5, 8 or 10 years to rid our country of illegal scale mining completely,”