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Following a three-week ultimatum to illegal miners to end their operations, 545 excavators have been moved from illegal mining sites as part of government's measures.

Also, 1148 out of 2300 dredging equipment have also been moved from illegal mining sites to main grounds.

A Daily Graphic report indicated that "as of April 14, 2017, illegal miners had turned in a number of excavators in the following mining towns: Akim Oda, 20; Asankragua, 120; Assin Fosu, 20; Bibiani, 120; Dunkwa, 200; Konongo, 25, and Tarkwa, 40".

Though the Nana Addo administration has received lots of praise for clamping down on illegal mining, popularly called galamsey; the government has equally been faced with criticisms and threats from the miners.

Some have threatened to vote out the government after its four-year tenure while others have lamented about the effects that the fight against "galamsey" would have on their families.

However, former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Henry Kwabena Kokofu believes the action by the government will help improve the mining sector and so called on all Ghanaians to support the government.

According to him, illegal mining poses threats to Ghana's environment and water bodies, and if not stopped would have adverse effects on the country's future.

He noted that illegal mining activities which are predominated by Chinese, doesn't only destroy the country's water bodies but also potentially spoil the ecosystem which is the community of organisms.

He recounted how the Chinese miners have also been eating all the frogs and snakes in the mining communities, hence destroying the ecosystem

Hon. Kokofu listed benefits for the existence of frogs in the communities, saying frogs have the ability to digest toxic chemicals and rid the country's water bodies of any poisonous substance that may affect lives.

He wondered why the Chinese have a peculiar taste for these animals and aside destroying the water bodies and the environment, they also go ahead to heartlessly chew them.

"So, they like the frogs and the snakes among others. Before you realize, they would have chewed all of them . . . It brings about what we term as ‘biodiversity loss’. When you google to find out the importance of frogs in the environment, it’s mind-boggling. The system of the frog can digest the cyanide that goes into water and takes over 100 years before it can even disappear. So, when it’s in the water and eats all those things and picks up the chemicals, it means it’s cleaning in a way. It helps to clean the water from all these things among others,” he said on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.

He therefore commended President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Peter Amewu and the government for taking bold steps to nip illegal mining in the bud.

Also adding his voice to the calls on the government to end illegal mining, the General Secretary of the People's National Convention has proffered solutions to the challenges in the sector.

According to him, it appears that the nation has little regard for the laws and this is why illegal miners courageously operate.

He asked the government to enforce the country's laws without fear or favour, believing that this is the surest way to end the menace.