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GNASSM Urges Police Task Force to Uphold Professionalism in Anti-Galamsey Operations
The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to ensure professionalism, accountability, and integrity in the operations of police personnel deployed to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Addressing the media, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GNASSM, Mr. Abdul Razak, raised serious concerns about growing reports of alleged misconduct involving members of the anti-galamsey task force. While reiterating the association’s support for government efforts to eradicate illegal mining, he called for urgent steps to address operational lapses that risk undermining the initiative.
“We support the fight against illegal mining, but the conduct of some officers is deeply worrying. We do not want to see a repeat of past strategies that brought no real results,” Mr. Abdul Razak stated.
He pointed to cases involving the arbitrary seizure of excavators parked legally outside mining concession areas, equipment that was designated for lawful operations. Mr. Razak said such incidents, along with ongoing harassment of licensed operators and the forced use of lowbed truck drivers without compensation, were eroding trust and creating opportunities for corruption.
“The harassment of lowbed truck drivers and the commandeering of their services without compensation to transport impounded excavators is unacceptable,” he stressed.
GNASSM is calling for a well-defined and transparent operational framework to guide the activities of security personnel involved in the anti-galamsey campaign. Mr. Razak noted that a clear mandate would help safeguard the interests of genuine miners and promote fairness and accountability in the sector.
“We believe in a persuasive and inclusive strategy that encourages compliance and targets offenders without harming genuine operators. That is how we will see meaningful results in this fight,” he concluded.
GNASSM continues to advocate for a collaborative and educational approach to combating illegal mining,one that balances enforcement with support for responsible small-scale mining.
Source: Justice Baffour Awuah,CEO//www.dailywatchgh.com
