'Pay half or go home' - Public outrage as police officer allegedly demands bribe at galamsey site

A viral video, believed to show a police officer who is part of an anti-galamsey taskforce, has sparked public outrage after the officer was seen allegedly demanding payment from illegal miners in exchange for allowing them to continue working.

In the video, the officer is seen at a galamsey site interacting with a man behind the camera.

The officer is heard telling the man to “pay half” and continue working, warning that failure to comply would result in being sent away.

“Pay half of it and work, but if you won’t pay, then you will go home,” the officer said.

The man behind the camera is also heard pleading with the officer, saying, “Officer, please don’t do that. If some of the money is there, I won’t let you talk much.”

He further appealed, “Officer, we are all brothers and we are also looking for our daily bread.”

The officer was later seen giving instructions to other individuals believed to be illegal miners at the site. Some were spotted with car batteries and other equipment, as he directed them to bring pumping machines.

Since the video surfaced online, many social media users have criticised the officer, especially at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining.

One user commented, “The system isn’t working, so everyone becomes corrupt. It’s more difficult to do the right thing in this country than to do the wrong thing. This guy is wrong, but he’s the least problem in this whole fight.”

Another wrote, “Everyone is involved in the illegal mining. The government should declare a state of emergency to clear people from our rivers and forests.”

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A third user stated, “A police officer allegedly collecting money from illegal miners instead of arresting them. This is exactly why galamsey never stops the people meant to stop it are on the payroll. The Ghana Police Service needs to investigate this officer immediately.”

Another added, “Galamsey can be stopped from the top levels before it reaches the ground. This is what happens daily in most galamsey communities they come, take money, and leave. Even when they arrest people, they wait for the foreman to pay and then release his boys to continue working.”

Read some of the comments below:

A video circulating online, reportedly recorded by an illegal miner, appears to show a Ghana Police Service officer allegedly demanding payment in exchange for allowing the miners to continue their activities, or instructing them to vacate the site if they are unable to comply.… pic.twitter.com/HWDgtH0j4c

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) May 2, 2026

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