There are some personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces High command providing security for galamsey operators in the hard-hit areas.
This accusation was made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu.
The Minister in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM alleged that the military has deployed some of its personnel to protect the illegal miners in parts of the Ashanti Region where his team is touring.
Amewu, therefore, demanded an immediate probe into the matter.
“The law enforcement agency, especially the Military are protecting an illegality and I think that it is time the truth be told. Most of the sites we visited today were heavily manned by the military command and I was wondering under what circumstances [were they undertaking this exercise] because my outfit had under no circumstance signed any contract with the military to protect those illegalities.”
“We tried finding out from the Minerals Commission and the Minerals Commission has established beyond all reasonable doubt that they have never under any occasion established any contract with those military and so whoever authorised that military to be protecting the Russian and Ukranian sites, I think it is time, those people answer very important questions. I don’t think the military will be doing those protections because they are military and of course they will be paid handsome reward for those activities they are undertaking…Until the law enforcement agencies begin to take this action seriously I don’t think there is any way we will achieve our objective.”
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In a related development, the Minister has asked that the foreign-operated Geo Professional Services be shut down with immediate effect.
The Minister has also ordered the arrest of the foreigners involved, including two Russians and two Ukrainians.
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The mining firm was using licenses of three local mining companies to mine at Tontokrom in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.
A “stop work order” was issued by the Inspection Directorate of the Minerals Commission on May 18. But they disregarded it and continued mining.
The company is to reclaim all disturbed lands and provide evidence to the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission of the restoration.