By: Magdalene Andoh
The Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately reassign all police commanders stationed in areas identified as illegal mining (galamsey) hotspots.
The directive, according to the Ministry, is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the fight against illegal mining and ensure a renewed commitment from law enforcement agencies in tackling the menace.
Illegal mining has been a major concern due to its adverse impact on the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves.
The government has reiterated its resolve to curb the practice and has called for greater accountability within the security agencies tasked with enforcing mining regulations.
The Ministry assured the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources and urged all stakeholders, including local communities, to support efforts aimed at eradicating illegal mining.
One Response
Please Hon Minister, this is not the way to go. Every three months commanders are going to be changed? Is it sustainable? Have you looked at the cost to the national purse? Transfer grants and all that. I have written an open letter to the President and may be published in the Daily Graphic. In that piece, I suggested to the President as an Environmental Engineer, that this galamsey fight has now escalated to a war situation. In any war situation, no one wins in the battlefield and the only way is negotiations and dialogue just as we are doing in Bawku as was done in the Dagbon situation, and even in the Ukraine war. I have proffered some key points for this dialogue to succeed so that peace will prevail. If the Hon Minister is interested, I can send him a copy.