Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, is calling for the immediate interdiction and investigation of a police commander allegedly involved in a violent ambush during an anti-galamsey operation at Bui Sobinso.
At a press briefing, Dr. Ashigbey described the incident as a shocking betrayal, following disclosures by Dr. Hannah Louisa Bissiw, Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, who narrowly escaped harm during the raid.
According to Dr. Bissiw, the operation—which included members of the media—came under armed attack from individuals allegedly acting on the orders of the local police commander.
“Anything could have happened to Dr. Bissiw and the journalists who were there that day. To think, as she put it, that the machinations were perpetuated by the police commander is deeply disturbing,” Dr. Ashigbey stated.
He emphasized that the officer in question must be immediately interdicted, thoroughly investigated, and, if found guilty, held accountable in a transparent and public manner.
“The police should not conceal such punishments. The public must see that wrongdoing within the service will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
Dr. Ashigbey further warned that illegal mining areas are fast becoming recruitment grounds for mercenaries, posing a serious threat to national security and democratic governance.
He renewed his call for the declaration of a state of emergency in galamsey-prone regions, insisting it would allow the state to deploy strategic and forceful interventions to dismantle illegal mining networks.
“Surveillance, asset freezes, and other targeted actions must be activated immediately. If this is not done urgently, the repercussions will be dire,” he cautioned.
