By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, April 23, GNA – Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has urged the Western Central Police Command, to recommit its efforts towards fighting against the illegal mining menace (galamsey) without compromise.
He said there had been some reports suggesting that some police officers were allegedly accepting bribes from illegal miners, an act he said, undermined efforts to curb the canker.
The Regional Minister made the call during a meeting with the leadership of the police at Tarkwa in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.
Mr Nelson said there was a lot to be done in the galamsey fight and as the Regional Minister, he had heard both the good and bad sides, but while he commended their efforts, he needed to highlight the negative aspects.
“When I hear that some of you are compromising in the fight against galamsey, I become saddened. While money is important, it is more fulfilling when earned through honest means,” he said.
“As leaders, we must care about the areas affected by galamsey, even if we do not live there, and so we should not prioritise short-term gains over long-term sustainability and the well-being of our communities,” he said.
Mr Nelson stated that the impact of galamsey was devastating, and that combating such activities required dedication and commitment from the security agencies.
“Some might think that if our water bodies are destroyed, they will be able to afford bottled water, but that is an unfortunate mind-set, because galamsey will ultimately affect us all, and we are already seeing its negative impacts on our health and lives,” he added.
The Western Regional Minister noted that aside the issue of safe water, the illegal mining menace was threatening the country’s food security.
Mr Nelson asked the security personnel to have a renewed commitment and focus on fighting the galamsey menace, to help protect the environment and water bodies from further destruction.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Desmond Boampong, the Western Central Police Commander, pledged the Command’s dedication to fight the illegal mining activities in the Region.
He however expressed worried about the constant interferences from some people in top political positions, as one of the major challenges they faced in ridding forests and water bodies of galamsey activities.
DCOP Boampong appealed to the Western Regional Minister to assist them in addressing these concerns, to help ensure total clamp down on such illegal activities in the Region.
GNA
MSM/CAA