In a bid to curb the growing menace of illegal mining, the Ghana Police Service has launched a nationwide operation to tackle the scourge of galamsey.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno announced the operation at the Regional Command Conference, where he emphasized the severe security risks posed by galamsey.
“Illegal mining poses a security risk, particularly in our forest reserves and mining communities,” IGP Yohuno warned.
The IGP cited the Western North region as a hotspot, where armed criminals have attacked innocent civilians and forest guards with impunity.
“In regions like the Western North and many others, armed criminals have carried out brutal attacks on innocent people, including forest guards without justification,” he noted.
IGP Yohuno vowed to take decisive action against perpetrators, stating, “This lawlessness must not be allowed to continue. We are declaring war on crimes related to illegal mining and I expect every regional commander to take decisive action to bring perpetrators to justice.”
As part of the operation, police commanders have been tasked with intensifying patrols in mining communities and forest reserves.
The police will also work closely with other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to ensure the success of the operation.
The launch of the operation is a significant boost to the government’s efforts to combat galamsey, which has been blamed for devastating environmental damage and social unrest in mining communities.