The Minerals Commission says its checks have revealed that illegal mining persists despite efforts by the government to put a stop to it.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission, Mr Martin Kwaku Ayisi stated that the situation is part of the many challenges confronting the operations of the state agency.

It would be recalled that the government announced a radical plan of tackling the menace of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey upon his assumption of office. 

In spite of criticisms of being heavy-handed on the part of the Defence Ministry in the early parts of the year when the task force was tasked to burn all mining equipment found on illegal mining sites across the country, the situation continues to rise, Mr Ayisi admitted.

He made the disclosure at a news conference in Accra to announce plans to carry out a reclamation exercise.

He noted that the Commission is prepared to support small-scale miners to act responsibly. 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said the government will continue to work assiduously to bring the illegalities in the sector to a halt.