Sack MMDCEs, police commanders in galamsey areas – Ashigbey urges Mahama

Convenor of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take decisive action against illegal mining by immediately dismissing all Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Police Commanders in areas where galamsey continues to thrive.

According to Dr. Ashigbey, such a move is essential to holding local leadership accountable for their failure to curb the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining operations.

He stressed that the ongoing destruction is a direct result of either negligence or complicity by those in authority.

“I am urging the President wherever galamsey is happening, remove the DCE, the MCE, and the local police commanders. Then interdict and investigate them for possible involvement in the illegal activity,” Dr. Ashigbey said in a media interview.

His remarks come in the wake of a violent confrontation between illegal miners and the Special Anti-Galamsey Taskforce at Bonteso in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.

Four suspects were arrested following the incident.

Reports indicate that the clash began when the task force intercepted an excavator being used for illegal mining.

A group of miners, allegedly mobilised by the local assembly member, Patrick Asare, responded by attacking the officers with stones, blocking their escape routes, and firing weapons

The taskforce used what it described as “appropriate force” to break through the blockade and impounded one excavator during the operation.

The arrested individuals are expected to be transferred to Accra for further investigation and prosecution.

Dr. Ashigbey emphasized that without strong accountability measures and the removal of compromised officials, efforts to end illegal mining will continue to falter.