The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has received water pumping machines confiscated at galamsey sites within the Akyempim and Tarkwa enclave in the Western Region.

The illegal miners had encroached on a concession of the Golden Star Wassa Akyempem Company.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) sighted two trucks loaded with the machines at the MoFA premises in Accra at about 1040 hours on Friday.

Speaking to the GNA, Mr Felix Opoku Gyemfi, the Public Relations Officer, confirmed the receipts of the machines, saying the Ministry was expecting five trucks in total.

“The trucks are five I’m told and I just saw two. The water pumping machines are actually for the Agric Ministry, I mean MoFA. I am yet to get the full briefing and will adequately inform you about the machines,” he said.

Earlier, Stephen Asiedu, Deputy PRO at the Ministry, said the machines would be given to farmers to support their irrigation efforts.

This follows a court order for the machines to be distributed to farmers in the five northern regions, through the Agriculture Ministry, to aid the irrigation of their farms and enhance food security.

The Police had seized the pumps during the arrest of the culprits who were, subsequently, prosecuted by the court.

An official who spoke to the GNA on condition of anonymity, said the confiscated machines were transferred from Golden Star (Wassa) Akyempim to the Ministry.

“The Golden Star Removal Permit document I have sighted recorded 755 pieces of the water pumping machines but I cannot tell if all were loaded in the two trucks,” he said.

Golden Star provided a place for storage of the pumps following a request from the Police over lack of space at their office.