Operation Vanguard taskforce is the team set up to deal with illegal miners nationwide
The Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Yaw Brogya Genfi has alleged that Operation Vanguard is only protecting foreign nationals who are still engaging in illegal mining contrary to claims it has chalked some success against the menace.
Officials of Operation Vanguard (OV) on Tuesday stated their activities are yielding good results scoring themselves 75% of the total work.
OV also revealed that it has so far arrested 1,129 illegal miners who are being prosecuted in various law courts in the country. Operation Vanguard during the week shot two illegal miners killing them all at Prestea, a mining community in the Western region.
However, speaking on Kumasi based Angel Fm Wednesday monitored by MyNewsGH.com Ashanti Regional Correspondent Syxtus Eshun, Mr. Genfi said OV has gone contrary to the task given them.
“As we sit here, Chinese are all over in our forest reserves felling timber to mine. Chinese are mining in our forest under the watch and security protection of Operation Vanguard whiles we kill our own Ghanaian men, yet none of them have been arrested”. The Aspiring NDC National Youth Organizer, alleged.
He also argued that the ban on small-scale mining has undoubtedly halted most economic activities in the country.
Mr. Genfi in latter part on the show also claimed the Chinese nationals are mining under the guise of reclaiming the destroyed lands calling on authorities to up their game in order to nib their activities in the bud.
“These foreigners are mining under the disguise of land reclamation”, he claimed.
Operation Vanguard is a task force consisting of personnel from the various security agencies mostly the army and the police. The task force formed by President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo – Addo was mandated to end illegal mining activities in the country’s forest reserves that was, directly and indirectly, destroying water bodies with fears the situation could get out of hand if it was not checked.
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