Operation Vanguard extends frontiers

The joint taskforce against illegal mining, Operation Vanguard has extended its frontiers to cover major and minor water bodies such as Rivers Pra, Daboase and Ankobra in the Western Region, River Birim in the Eastern Region and River Enu in the Ashanti Region and others.

Since its launch on July 31, 2017, Operation Vanguard has made many arrests. A total of 139 suspected illegal miners have since been taken off illegal mining sites and handed over to the police for processing for court.

Major Adams Gariba Pabi, who speaks for the task force has explained that with the tempo building up, the team has partnered with the Ghana Navy and the Marine Police to extend its frontier to the river bodies.

He explained the task force has been able to dismantle and immobilized several ‘Shanfan’ platforms on the tributaries of major river bodies and that it was hoped that the activities of the new partnership will help reduce massively the pollution of the major water bodies and help change the turbidity state of the rivers.

"This new drive will help a number of water treatment plants to resume water production and others to reduce the cost of water production thereby serving more people in the affected communities with more potable drinking water."

Meanwhile personnel of the Ghana Navy have completed their reconnaissance along the tributaries of the major water bodies in the three regions.