Ban on galamsey not responsible for robberies – Ken Ashigbe

The Media Collation against galamsey, has discredited criticisms by some security analysts that the ban on illegal mining is responsible for rise in robbery cases in Ghana in recent times.

“It must be difficult for me to see a direct linkage because most of those galamsey prone areas where Operation Vanguard operates, the crime rate has gone down. There is no direct linkage here” Mr. Ken Ashigbe who is convener told Agnel FM’s morning show host Kwame Tanko this Monday.

According to him, the Ghana police service indicates that some arrested members of the robberies are foreigners, therefore, one cannot directly connect crime rise to the ban on illegal mining.

The Media Collation Against Galamsey, however, insisted the Police service and the government must find a better way of solving the issue of illegal mining and crime Ghana.

Mr. Ken Ashibey the convener of the association also chided the media for being too complacent on the menace. “Let’s all help in making the fight against illegal mining which is destroying our natural resources a success”. He pleaded

Galamsey in Ghana

Early 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources revoked licenses of all small-scale miners and further placed a ban on their activities, stating that their operations were destroying water bodies and forest reserves.

The move was also a way to reclaim all damaged water bodies and forest around the mining areas.

The government has said it will need millions of Ghana cedis to dredge water bodies and reclaim forest reserves and lands.

According to reports, illegal mining destroyed almost all water bodies in Ghana making it difficult for the Ghana Water Company to process potable water for consumers.

Fears were rife that beyond 2020 Ghana may import water if the illegal mining menace is not immediately checked.

A Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kumasi, His Grace Archbishop Justice Gabriel Anokye described illegal miners as wicked people in the country.

However, Operation Vanguard (OV), a task force which consists officers of Ghana Police Service and the military, formed by the government to fight illegal miners has so far received commendation for a great job.