Former Amansie West Small Scale Miners Association Chairman, Daniel Kwaku Mensah
Daniel Kwaku Mensah, popularly known as DKM, a prominent figure in a mining community within the Ashanti Region, has launched a scathing critique of the government’s approach to combating illegal mining (galamsey).
DKM, who serves as the former Amansie West Small Scale Miners Association Chairman, current Assembly Member for Manso Moseaso, and National 2nd Vice President of NALAG, alleges that relying on soldiers and police for anti-galamsey operations is futile due to their deep-rooted ties with illegal miners.
His strong comments come in the wake of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources’ recent distribution of 10 pickups to NAIMOS (National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations).
DKM dismissed this move, stating, “Sharing pick-ups to NAIMOS and providing support to certain anti-galamsey teams under the guise of fighting the canker is a waste of time. People think it will help the nation, but for me, it won’t.”
DKM contends that efforts to combat galamsey will remain unsuccessful unless the government consults and empowers local communities. He claims that security forces often compromise operations by tipping off miners.
“You and I know that these soldiers and police who pretend to be fighting galamsey are friends to those practising it. They have their contacts, and no one would fall for these soldiers and police to get them arrested. Whenever these so-called galamsey fighters are coming, they place calls to give these galamseyers information even before they reach the place, making it easier for the people to flee from sites.” DKM alleged.
He further asserted that only those without such connections face arrest, while “the real gurus run away because they are friends to these soldiers, police, and other security operatives who are so-called galamsey fighters.” DKM also claimed that seized equipment is frequently retrieved.
“Nobody would sit aloof for his machine to be destroyed or seized. Even if they were seized, the person would get it back. It’s all about money,” he stated, questioning if such practices were confined to a particular political era.
According to DKM, anti-galamsey task forces are primarily established as “jobs for the boys agenda” by successive governments, lacking genuine commitment to eradicating the menace. He challenged any serious government to decentralize the fight, entrusting district chief executives (DCEs) and local districts with the responsibility, together with the chiefs.
“If any government is serious about fighting this menace, then I challenge it to leave it for the districts to take over the course. They should allow the DCEs to do these jobs. Why were the MMDCES chosen? Were they not chosen to represent the president? Why is every government failing to trust its DCEs with these fights?” he quizzed.
DKM proposed that the 10 pickups recently distributed should instead be allocated to galamsey-dominated districts, with established local monitoring teams to regulate miners and ensure adherence to proper practices.
“Let’s regulate the miners and allow the monitoring team to do their work to ensure that the right things are done all the time,” he suggested.
He drew an analogy to the old education system where district education directors effectively monitored teachers, ensuring discipline. “This is far better than relying on soldiers and police to come and cover pits and protect forests and water bodies.
These 10 pickups shared by the lands minister to NAIMOS and to me don’t make any effective move. The right things must be done, and the right thing is that these soldiers must be asked to stop,” DKM concluded, advocating for a locally driven and regulated approach.
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