The illegal mining crisis, or galamsey, has plagued Ghana for years, threatening the country's natural resources, particularly its rivers and water bodies.
While various governments have relied on military intervention to combat the issue, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, believes the solution lies elsewhere-within the hands of everyday Ghanaians.
Speaking at a recent event, Duker made his stance clear: "Let's do everything possible to sack all illegal miners from our water bodies," he urged.
However, he cautioned against solely relying on military force, which has been the go-to approach for several administrations over the years. "Successive governments have tried to use the military to fight galamsey, but none of them succeeded.