Israel declares support for Ghana to fight illegal mining

Ghanas government continues its fight to stop illegal mining locally called galamsey.

The Israel Ambassador to Ghana declared support to Ghana in fighting the menace.

Ami Mehl said his country is ready to support the West African country in any capacity to recover from the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.

In a statement released on Wednesday, April 19, Ambassador Ami Mehl applauded government and Ghanaians for the determination to tackle illegal mining.

The statement added that: "Being blessed with such a beautiful country, it behoves us to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

"It is my opinion that the exploitation of one natural resource should not become a death sentence to forests, water bodies and the life they support."

He cited how Israel suffered decades of existential threats as a result of water shortages.

"I hope that Ghana does not find herself facing water crisis in the future.

"As Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana and a former Tour Guide at the Society for Protecting the Nature in Israel, I wish to state my unalloyed support to the campaign against illegal mining and the fight to protect Ghana’s forests and water bodies."

There are fears that if the menace is not checked Ghana may soon import water since most of the country’s water bodies have been destroyed by mining activities.

Civil society organisations and religious bodies have also joined the fight.

However, Ghana's minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu has assured that all the illegal small scale miners who left the mining sites following the anti-galamsey campaign will not be allowed to return.

A number of excavator operators have reportedly withdrawn their equipment from the illegal mining sites as the ultimatum given by the government to clamp down on illegal mining expired on Wednesday.