The Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Yussif Sulemana, says the government will press ahead with the push by late Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed to repeal LI 2462 — the law permitting mining in forest reserves — following his death, alongside seven others, in last week’s helicopter crash.

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Sulemana revealed that Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, now acting as Environment Minister, will continue the work Dr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim started.

“We are not against mining, but it must be done responsibly,” he said. “From now on, the policies the government is putting in place must be strictly implemented if we are to win this fight.”

According to him, confronting illegal mining would be the most fitting way to honour the fallen heroes.

“If we can reduce this menace, it will be the best tribute to these heroes — because that’s what they died for. These eight people paid the ultimate price in the fight against Galamsey.”

Outlining a two-pronged plan, the deputy minister vowed that forest reserves would be cleared of miners and that those operating on water bodies “will not be spared”.

He added that a forthcoming documentary will highlight the Blue Water Guard initiative, which removes miners from rivers and destroys their equipment.

The Chief Executive Officer of the District Road Improvement Programme, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, joined the call for a tougher crackdown, insisting that the victims’ sacrifice must drive a renewed and uncompromising fight against illegal mining.

'We should go all out and finish these galamsey people,” he declared. “I will support any decision to go all out on this occasion because these people have sacrificed their lives for the sake of ending Galamsey.”

According to Mr Vanderpuye, such a loss leaves no room for hesitation. “If they have made this sacrifice for us as a country, we have no excuse not to end Galamsey,” he said. “I wish I had that authority — it would be war.”

He insisted that the next stage of the fight must be in the memory of the fallen. “We can’t lose these people, these fine gentlemen, these hard-working, intelligent individuals, and still allow people to be in the forest and in the rivers destroying our environment. he said.”

Mr Vanderpuye urged that their names be used as a rallying cry.
“Let’s put their names together — not to appreciate Vanguard or appreciate nothing — but to go out there, use their names, and fight.”

“If Galamsey is going to take the lives of these people, then we better also take the life of Galamsey. I will support every attempt to now be ruthless in the management and the eradication or elimination of Galamsey. We should be ruthless , he added.

Ghanaian businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome also emphasised the need to determine the exact cause of the crash.

“It’s important to establish the exact cause — not only to give closure to families but to prevent such incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, President Mahama has reflected on his close ties with two of the victims — Dr. Murtala and Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Lumina Muniru.

“The two brothers, Muniru and Murtala, were both personally close to me. I mentored Murtala from when he was a new MP for Nantong. He was a devout team member, one of our brightest minds. Muniru was like a younger brother — a permanent fixture in my home who often acted as my personal assistant. This is a very deep personal loss for me,” Mr. Mahama said.

Read Also: If given the authority, I’ll wage a war to end galamsey – Nii Lante Vanderpuye on death of gov’t officials