President Akufo-Addo has reiterated his commitment to clamp down on illegal small scale mining popularly known as 'galamsey' in the country.

Speaking on Zain’s Exchange on CNN Monday, the President said his government has re-introduced measures to fight the menace which is significantly affecting the country’s water bodies and environment.

He stressed that he and his government with the assistance of the military will eradicate the menace for the environment to resuscitate to its natural state.

“We are determined to come to grip with it. In fact this week major operations are being authorized by me, the Armed Forces to clear our rivers of all the equipment, the machinery that is devastating and polluting our environment and waters.

“So we are taking some very strong measures to try to come to grips with it,” he said.

Pursuant to the resolutions of the final communique of the National Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining held in April, President Akufo-Addo directed the Ghana Armed Forced to commence an operation to remove all persons and logistics involved in illegal mining on the country’s water bodies.

The exercise, dubbed, “Operation Halt” has already seen the rest of two Chinese nationals and nine excavators were destroyed.

The President has also announced that he will not hesitate to prosecute any member of his government or party who are caught engaging in the illegal activity.