In a bold move to combat the galamsey menace, the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has ordered the immediate transfer of all regional, divisional, and district police commanders stationed in mining areas.
According to the minister, the decision is aimed at replacing officers who have served in these areas for an extended period without effectively addressing the galamsey menace.
“I have ordered the IGP to transfer all police commanders in all mining areas and send in new ones,” Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak stated during an engagement with Imams and Zongo Chiefs in Kumasi.
The Minister emphasized that this directive forms part of stringent measures to clamp down on the galamsey industry, which continues to pose a significant threat to Ghana’s environment and water resources.
“The new ones we are taking there will be transferred after three months if they don’t perform. We will keep making changes till we see results,” he added.
Under the new policy, affected commanders will be reassigned to areas without mining activities, while their replacements will be given a three-month probationary period to prove their effectiveness in combating galamsey.
The galamsey menace has been a persistent challenge for the Ghanaian government, with the illicit industry causing widespread environmental degradation and water pollution.
The National Democratic Congress government has faced criticism for its handling of the issue, with many calling for more decisive action to be taken.
Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak’s directive is seen as a response to these criticisms, and a demonstration of the government’s commitment to tackling the galamsey menace.
The minister’s resolve to enforce this directive, despite mounting pressure on the IGP to reconsider, is an indication of the government’s determination to address the issue.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
