The Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has said that anyone who attempts to foment trouble in the name of chieftaincy will be dealt with by the security agencies.
To that end, he has served a caution to all persons to desist from causing trouble in any part of the country.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 21, Dr Omane Boamah stated that Ghana is safe, stable, peaceful and ready for the reset agenda by the Mahama administration.
The government won’t allow anyone to disturb the peace, he said.
“Ghana is safe, peaceful, stable and ready for a reset agenda,” he said, adding that “criminals who want to foment troubles in the name of chieftaincy will be dealt with.”
Dr Omane Boamah further announced that the Ghana Navy has enhanced its security operations to protect the country.
“The Navy has enhanced its protection for the West Africa Pipeline,” he said.
He added, “the Navy has organised two programmes to enhance the operation of narcotics personnel.”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah also touched on the issue of galamsey during the press conference.
He noted that the Ghana Army Forces has contributed significantly to the preservation of forest reserves from illegal mining under President Mahama’s administration.
The Minister opined that officers have helped recover forest reserves from illegal miners in many cases where the forest guards were unable to do so.
“The Ghana Armed Forces have played significant supporting roles in the fight against illegal mining. We have reviewed the fight against illegal mining and have worked with stakeholders to reform the fight. NAIMOS is a product of that review exercise.
“The recovery of several forest reserves early this year which our forest guards could not venture was led by the Ghana Armed Forces. Additionally, the Navy supported land forces in operation Halt II along River Ankobra in the Western and Western North Regions,” he stated.
Dr. Omane Boamah also noted that the Navy’s rivalry operations along the Volta River like Operation OASIS in Aburi has assisted and reduced the effect of illegal mining along the Black Volta.
Although he believes that the fight against illegal mining has not yet been fully achieved, he expressed optimism in President Mahama’s administration to fulfill his promise of fighting galamsey.
“We are not out of the woods yet as a nation but there’s hope because there’s a political will at the very top,” he stressed.
