Professor Nana Ama Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), has disclosed that eight persons sustained serious injuries following a violent attack by armed illegal miners, commonly known as “galamseyers.”
Professor Klutse stated that the anti-galamsey taskforce, which was escorting the EPA team, was overwhelmed by the arms and ammunition wielded by the illegal miners. The EPA CEO noted that even with a military escort, the accompanying soldiers reportedly felt they could not overpower the heavily armed miners, forcing the entire team to flee for their safety.
The team’s mission, Professor Klutse explained, was to prevent mining in water bodies and to pursue the suppliers supporting illegal mining operations.
She disclosed that after closing down some shops in Anhwia Nkwanta and en route to other locations in Obuasi, they discovered active illegal mining. As they approached the area to investigate, the illegal miners initially absconded. The team attempted to call the miners back for engagement. However, word of the anti-galamsey operation quickly spread, resulting in a group of well-built men brandishing firearms storming the location.
“Accompanied by the military and national security, our team had to flee after confronting heavily built men (some labeled ‘CID’) who refused to show ID, as our security personnel felt they could not overpower them,” Professor Klutse recounted. “Following urgent advice from Accra to change our route and immediately leave, we sped away on an alternate, longer path toward Kumasi. In the course of this high-speed escape, a car carrying EPA staff and journalists was involved in a fatal head-on collision near Kumasi with a truck carrying galamsey equipment.”
Professor Klutse confirmed that among the eight injured persons, one is in critical condition suffering from fractured bones. All the injured are currently admitted, receiving care from medical professionals.
“It is a difficult moment for us. Those who sustained the injuries are responding to treatment but are traumatized. They are in shock over what happened. I am unable to sleep, but I am confident that the doctors and medical team handling them will give them the best of care,” she stated.
She announced that the EPA has temporarily retreated from the anti-galamsey activities to review its strategy.
“We cannot stop the anti-galamsey exercise, but we have been forced to retreat and go back and have a discussion with the security agencies on the best ways possible to handle the situation,” she told host Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM. “The guns wielded by the illegal miners were overwhelming. The illegal miners were more heavily armed than the security personnel who escorted us.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
