The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has urged Regional Commanders of the Ghana Police Service to ensure that the perpetrators of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, are arrested and prosecuted.
“Illegal mining poses a significant security risk, particularly in the forest reserves and mining communities. In regions like the Western North, armed criminals have carried out brutal attacks on innocent people, including forest guards without justification,” he noted.
Mr Yohuno made the call at the opening of the Ghana Police Regional Command conference held at the police headquarters, Accra, on Friday.
It was attended by Regional Police Commanders, members of the Police Management Board, Senior Police Officers and members of the Ministry for the Interior.
“This lawlessness must not be allowed to continue. We are declaring war on crime related to illegal mining, and I expect every Regional Commander to take decisive action to bring perpetrators to justice,” Mr Yohuno emphasised.
According to him, crimes related to illegal mining, rising security issues such as attacks on Mobile Money vendors and the Bawku conflict, required the police service to intensify its operations and ensure the safety and security of the citizenry.
The IGP underscored the need for Regional Commanders to prioritise the well-being of officers under their command, and that “a motivated workforce is essential for achieving our security objectives.”
He said that all pending petitions regarding police promotions and welfare would be referred for consideration once the Police Council was constituted.
Also, Mr Yohuno urged Regional Commanders to address issues such as corruption, police intimidation, and the excessive use of force, which created a negative public perception about the security agency.
The Minister for the Interior, Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, said the ministry would establish a secretariat for the 24-hour Economy Policing System, to implement robust and sustainable policing models to ensure guaranteed security.
The system, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak noted, would serve as a critical tool in the fight against crime, and ensure the protection of economic assets across the country.
He asked Regional Police Commanders to ensure that the provision of security services to private individuals and organisations by police officers, the provision of armored vehicles to assist in cash in transit, and the issuance of licensed guns to individuals were streamlined, and also a background check conducted on them.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak also warned that Regional Commanders who failed to forward foreigners involved in illegal mining to his ministry for repatriation would be transferred from their region to other regions where illegal mining did not take place.
The Director-General, Administration of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP) Dr David Agyeman Adjem, said the conference provided a platform to reflect, innovate, and renew the commitment of the police service, and urged the participants to actively participate in it.
BY AGNES OWUSU
