Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, says the pollution of water bodies by illegal mining activities in the country cannot be allowed to continue but must be confronted with tact and precision.

He said despite challenges facing the fight, stakeholders, including the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), must remain resolute and coordinate activities required to win the war against illegal mining.

He said his administration would, therefore, not shy away from coordinating activities in fighting the canker and restoring the environment and all the water bodies being polluted by these illegal miners.

Hon. Joseph Nelson said this while he was addressing leaders of the Air Force base command in Takoradi on Wednesday, 19th February 2025.

The Minister, who is also Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), had engaged leadership of the Airforce base command for security briefings and a familiarisation tour of the area.

Air Commodore Kwabena Kissiedu Manukure Atiemo, the base commander, had informed the Minister about complexities being encountered in the fight against illegal mining activities in the Western Region and across the country.

In response, the Minister said despite these complexities, the destruction of the environment and pollution of water bodies definitely cannot be allowed to continue while leadership watches on unconcerned.

Consequently, he said leadership was about choices, and the leadership choice he would provide at this point was necessary to deal with perpetrators of illegal mining in the region.

He said instead of wailing and doing nothing, his administration would work with stakeholders to provide alternative sources of livelihood for the people against the over-dependence on illegal mining for survival.

"Those polluting the water bodies and surviving, there are alternatives," he said with emphasis.

Hon. Joseph Nelson said allowing the practice of illegal mining activities in the region to fester was equivalent to choosing death over life.

Under the circumstances, he declared for the umpteenth time that his administration would collaborate with stakeholders to end illegal mining in the region. "We must all be committed to fighting it", he concluded.