The Ghanaian military has launched a renewed and intensified operation to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, resulting in the destruction of significant mining equipment on the first day.

Soldiers deployed under the government’s “Operation Halt” initiative successfully destroyed 18 chanfans, 10 industrial water pumping machines, and one excavator in various illegal mining sites across Ghana.

The military crackdown, which began early Thursday morning, targeted illegal mining operations primarily in water bodies and protected areas, which have long suffered from severe environmental degradation due to galamsey activities.

The destruction of these machines is part of a broader national effort to curb the devastating impact of galamsey, which has led to the pollution of rivers, the destruction of farmlands, and deforestation in many parts of the country.

This latest action by the military follows mounting public pressure from environmental groups, civil society organizations (CSOs), and ordinary citizens who have been calling for more aggressive steps to eliminate illegal mining.

Galamsey has become one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and economic challenges, threatening the country’s water bodies and agricultural lands.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, responding to the increasing demands, ordered the intensification of Operation Halt, directing the deployment of additional military personnel to galamsey hotspots.

As part of the operation, the military focused on dismantling the machinery that facilitates illegal mining. Among the most significant pieces of equipment destroyed were chanfans, which are large machines used to extract gold from riverbeds.

These machines are known for causing extensive damage to water bodies by dredging riverbeds and releasing toxic chemicals such as mercury, which pollute the water and harm aquatic life.

In addition to the chanfans, the soldiers also destroyed 10 industrial water pumping machines, which are essential for the illegal miners to wash gold-laden sediment from the riverbeds.

Without these machines, galamsey operators would find it extremely difficult to continue their operations. Furthermore, an excavator, which is often used to dig large pits in the mining process, was also set ablaze by the task force.