IGP Bolsters Anti-Galamsey Crackdown in Ashanti Region Amid Violent Resistance
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has significantly intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, known as galamsey, in the Ashanti Region, aligning with a presidential directive to curb the environmental and security threats posed by these activities.
Special Anti-Galamsey Operations teams, led by officers such as DSP Karim Mahama and ASP Bawah, have been deployed to key hotspots, including Manso Adubia, Diaso, and Atwima Nwabiagya, with specific focus on flashpoints like Manso Datano, Tontokrom, and Watreso.
These operations have faced significant challenges, including violent resistance from armed miners and, surprisingly, some community opinion leaders and political figures. In Manso Adubia, clashes have escalated over the past six weeks, with reports of community members, allegedly incited by local leaders, attacking police with stones and weapons, forcing officers to use warning shots to restore order.
Despite these difficulties, the Ghana Police Service has made notable progress, with 59 suspects arrested in galamsey-related cases across the Ashanti and Western regions, alongside the seizure of unlicensed equipment and weapons.
The broader anti-galamsey campaign includes strategic reshuffles of police commanders in affected areas, such as Nkawie and Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, to inject fresh energy into the fight. Operations have also involved intelligence-led raids, with significant arrests and equipment seizures reported in other regions like Samreboi in the Western Region.
However, concerns have been raised by the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) about alleged police excesses, such as unwarranted equipment seizures and harassment, urging a more transparent and persuasive approach to balance enforcement with responsible mining practices.
Dr. Yohuno’s leadership has been commended by figures like the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah-Kofi Buah, for its decisive approach to tackling galamsey’s environmental and security impacts. Nonetheless, the resistance from community and political figures highlights the complex socio-political dynamics complicating enforcement efforts in the Ashanti Region.
