In a bold move to intensify the fight against illegal mining, Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately reassign all Regional, Divisional, and District Police Commanders serving in mining jurisdictions across the country.
The directive, issued as part of the government’s renewed crackdown on illegal mining (galamsey), specifically targets law enforcement officers whose prolonged postings in these areas have failed to yield significant progress in curbing illicit mining operations.
New Deployment Strategy: Performance Over Tenure
Under this new strategy:
- Outgoing police commanders in mining districts will be transferred to non-mining regions.
- Newly assigned officers will serve a three-month probationary period, during which their performance will be assessed based on progress in combatting illegal mining.
- Continuous rotations will be implemented until “tangible results” are achieved.
Speaking at a community engagement session with Imams and Zongo Chiefs in Kumasi, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, emphasized that the directive was non-negotiable and necessary to bring fresh energy and accountability to anti-galamsey operations.
I have instructed the IGP to effect an immediate rotation of all police commanders in mining districts. Newly posted officers will be subject to performance reviews within three months, with further rotations implemented until tangible outcomes are achieved,” he asserted.
This directive signals a zero-tolerance approach to inefficiency and potential complicity among law enforcement personnel stationed in high-risk illegal mining zones.
Tragedy in Anti-Galamsey Operation: Officer Drowns in Offin River
In a related development that underscores the dangers of illegal mining enforcement, the Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into the death of a police officer, G/Constable John Kwabena Dogbey, during an anti-galamsey operation.
Incident Details:
- Date: April 2, 2025
- Location: Assin Domeabra, Central Region
- Taskforce: Central North Regional Police Anti-Galamsey Taskforce
- Cause of Death: Officer fell into the Offin River and sustained fatal injuries while attempting to dismantle an illegal mining machine (Chanfan).
The police service has yet to release a full report, but preliminary findings confirm that the operation was part of a broader nationwide effort to disrupt illegal mining activities in Ghana’s forest and riverine areas.