The Ghanaian police have intensified their crackdown on illegal mining, known as galamsey, with a series of raids in the Samreboi forests and along the Tano River. On the fourth day of the operation, 21 more suspects were arrested, bringing the total number to 47, including 39 Ghanaians and 8 Chinese nationals. Four Ghanaian women were also among those arrested.
The police also seized 17 excavators and one bulldozer, which raises questions about how these heavy machines were imported and transported to the mining sites without detection. The machines, registered in the names of their owners, have sparked a probe into the “unseen hands” behind the galamsey menace.
As the authorities transport the first batch of 26 suspects to Accra to face justice, many are left wondering how these illegal mining operations have gone on for so long without detection. Who imported these machines? Who gave visas to the Chinese nationals involved? And what role did national security, police, chiefs, and community leaders play in allowing this to happen?
The answers to these questions may lie in the fact that the machines were imported and transported through cities and villages to the bush, suggesting that those behind the operations are well-connected and well-resourced. The police are now tasked with tracking down the “big men” behind this evil, who may not be directly involved in the mining but are pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
The government’s commitment to tackling galamsey is clear, but the question remains: will they be able to uncover the masterminds behind this menace and bring them to justice? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the people of Ghana demand action, and it’s time for the authorities to deliver. Alexander Afriyie.