Some officers of the Ghana Armed Forces
Security analyst Andrews Asiedu Tetteh has recommended that the government rotate soldiers and other security personnel deployed to anti-illegal mining bases on a monthly basis to prevent potential compromise.
Tetteh’s comments came in a recent interview following the government’s announcement of plans to establish military bases in various illegal mining, or galamsey, areas.
While commending the initiative, he cautioned that a prolonged presence could lead to corruption among the deployed forces.
According to Tetteh, authorities must provide sufficient resources and incentives to motivate the soldiers and prevent them from being influenced by illegal miners.
He stressed that a lack of resources could undermine the entire operation.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said, “We have tried our best in dealing with galamsey but have been unsuccessful. I think this current approach of establishing military bases is good but we have to monitor them.
“We should ensure that they are not compromised. Authorities should motivate them so that these illegal miners don’t compromise them with money.”
He added that establishing these bases would provide a “close source” for addressing the problem but emphasized that “the most important thing is to maintain discipline and ensure our security officers don’t get compromised.”
In a related development, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, issued a strong directive to the security forces.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a training program for the newly-formed National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Minister instructed the forces to be “firm, resolute and ruthless” with illegal miners.
He declared that those who defy the law are “enemies of the state” and must be dealt with decisively, adding, “You will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you.”
