The Media Coalition against Galamsey has charged the Military High Command to make public its findings and sanctions against three members of the Anti-Galamsey taskforce, Operation vanguard, arrested for colluding with illegal miners.
The Ghana Armed Forces last week suspended three soldiers with the Anti-Galamsey task force.
The soldiers were reported to have connived with certain individuals to extort monies from illegal miners.
A statement from the military said the accused officers have been placed under arrest while investigations continue into their conduct.
Hailing the action of the Military High Command, the Convener for the Media Coalition Against Galamsey Ken Ashigbe said: “It was important that whatever happens just as we have been informed when this arrest have been made, we will also will be when the investigations are completed and whatever punishment it is deserved.”
Speaking to Starr news’ Ibrahim Alhasssan, Mr. Ashigbe further noted the actions of the three does not in any way discredit the taskforces’ fight against illegal mining across the country.
“When the Military themselves are taking actions against miscreants in them, I think it rather gives us hope that they will clean up if there is any elements of wronging in them,” he stated.
The Operation Vanguard task force was set up last year by government to help fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The taskforce has impounded a total of one hundred and One (101) varied weapons and 2,347 ammunition from galamsey sites since July 2017.
Most of these weapons were illegally acquired by the miners. Squadron Leader Robison Omane-Agyei, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Operation Vanguard Taskforce revealed this while speaking at a stakeholder’s forum at Akyem Osino in the Eastern region organized by Media Coalition against Galamsey.
According to him, the task force has seized a total of 548 excavators out of which 215 have been confiscated and handed over to various district Assemblies for use by Court and others, demobilized.
Also, 1,447 Water pumping machines have been impounded. Additionally, the Operation Vanguard Taskforce has impounded 79 Vehicles, 71 motorbikes and 5271 Shanfai machines from the galamsey mining sites nationwide.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
