By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The Ghana Police Service has intensified its fight against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, with a recent operation in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
According to police reports, the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force deployed to the area came under attack from a group of residents while carrying out their duties. The confrontation is said to have occurred during a planned operation aimed at clamping down on illegal mining activities, which have long been associated with severe environmental degradation in the district.
Details surrounding the incident remain limited, but sources indicate that the attackers allegedly attempted to obstruct the task force from seizing mining equipment and halting operations deemed illegal. The police have not yet confirmed any arrests or injuries from the clash.
The Ghana Police Service has reiterated its commitment to the ongoing nationwide campaign against illegal mining, stressing that such operations are critical to protecting water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves from destruction. Authorities have also cautioned communities against interfering with law enforcement efforts, warning that obstructing official duties is a criminal offence that could lead to prosecution.
Illegal mining has been a persistent challenge in the Amansie South District and other parts of the Ashanti Region, often resulting in tense encounters between law enforcement and local residents. The government has pledged to sustain the anti-galamsey fight despite resistance from some quarters.
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