Police must answer for illegal mining near station - Akwatia MP

Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has insisted that police officers at the station where galamsey was recently uncovered must be held accountable for the illegal mining activity.

Speaking on TV3's New Day on July 30, 2026, the MP condemned reports of illegal mining that was happening in close proximity to a police station, describing the situation as indefensible.

"There can never be any justification for this. There can never be," he fumed.

NAIMOS arrests 19 suspects over galamsey activities near police station

According to him, the first point of accountability should be the police officers responsible for law enforcement in the area, as they have the legal authority to arrest offenders.

"The head and the police officers at that very police station must be called to answer questions. I will not go for a regional minister who may be so many miles away from there. Indeed, I will not even be calling out the DCE yet because the one who has the power of arrest is the one seated in that building close to where the galamsey operators were," he stated.

Bernard Bediako argued that public discourse on illegal mining often focuses on politicians while overlooking the role of law enforcement officers tasked with enforcing the country's laws.

"I don't subscribe to this whole conversation about always calling politicians out, except you give me reason that the politician is the one sabotaging the work of the law enforcement officers," he said.

The Akwatia MP noted that if police officers claim they were prevented from taking action by political authorities, those allegations should then be investigated.

"If they come and tell us, 'I made an arrest, but the DCE told me to leave them,' then we will get to the DCE, and I will never defend any DCE that sees this and proceeds as though nothing is happening," he added.

He further suggested that journalists identify the specific police station where the alleged illegal mining is taking place and invite the officers in charge to explain what action they have taken.

"Find out which police station it is. Call the officer there and ask him whether he has seen what is happening and what he has done about it. That is what I would go for," he said.

The MP also acknowledged that illegal mining remains a long-standing national challenge but stressed that the situation cannot be allowed to continue.

"We know we have a problem. The problem is not really my issue; how to deal with it is. It is an age-old problem, but we cannot continue like this," he stated.

He further warned that the visible environmental destruction caused by the activity, including uncovered mining pits, poses a danger to nearby communities.

"There is no justification for this. Nobody is saying there shouldn't be mining, but you cannot mine in this manner," he stressed.

NA/VPO

Scenes from the funeral grounds of late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka