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ACCRA, Ghana (AP) \u2014 Ghana’s president launched a special task force on Tuesday to combat rampant illegal gold mining and smuggling<\/a> that has long plagued the West African nation.<\/p>\n The chronic challenge of illegal gold mining<\/a> \u2014 known locally as \u201cgalamsey\u201d \u2014 was a major issue during Ghana\u2019s presidential election<\/a> campaign last year and a source of concern for voters, triggering protests and criticism against the outgoing government.<\/p>\n Ghana’s President John Mahama inaugurated the GOLDBOD Task Force, saying its creation \u201csignals our readiness to act decisively.\u201d<\/p>\n The task force \u2014 comprised of officers from various security agencies and the military \u2014 is empowered to arrest and detain suspects. It follows the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board agency in January as the sole legal entity managing all transactions and exports of gold mined in the country by small mining companies.<\/p>\n Mahama said that along with the agency, the task force will strive to curb the proliferation of illegal miners and \u201cdismantle the black-market economy surrounding gold.\u201d<\/p>\n He touted what he described as the rebound of the cedi, Ghana’s currency, which has had a poor track record against the dollar, as a result of setting up the Ghana Gold Board.<\/p>\n The illegal gold mining industry has resulted in significant economic losses and environmental degradation for Ghana, Africa’s largest gold-producing country. It has flourished as a result of a massive slump in Ghana’s economic fortunes as millions of young people struggle to find jobs.<\/p>\n