The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has strongly denied allegations that National Security operatives are involved in illegal mining activities along the Ankobra River, labeling the claims as a desperate tactic by suspects to evade justice.
The controversy sparked on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, following the arrest of several illegal miners, popularly known as galamsey operators, within the Prestea enclave.
Upon their arrest, the suspects claimed their illicit operations were being facilitated and protected by state security personnel.
However, following a swift review of the incident, government officials have completely dismissed the assertions.
“Preliminary investigations have established that these allegations are completely false, misleading, and without any merit or basis whatsoever,” said Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in a statement released Friday.
The Ministry noted a troubling trend where arrested individuals routinely point fingers at state institutions to deflect blame and disrupt law enforcement efforts.
According to the Ministry, the National Agency for Illegal Mining Operations and Security (NAIMOS) is currently tracking down impostors who pose as security officers to extort or participate in the illegal trade.
“It has been observed that some illegal miners have now made a habit of making baseless claims against state institutions and security agencies in their attempts to evade accountability for their unlawful activities,” Schandorf added, emphasizing that NAIMOS remains determined to bring such unscrupulous persons to book.
Despite the setback, the Ministry reiterated its confidence in the joint law enforcement task forces working to protect Ghana’s heavily polluted water bodies.
Expressing gratitude to the security agencies, the Ministry affirmed that the government’s intensified crackdown on galamsey will continue unabated, relying heavily on the continued resilience and collaboration of all national stakeholders.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana