Security analyst Andrews Asiedu Tetteh has claimed that approximately 80 per cent of individuals tasked with combating illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, have been compromised.
He stated that officers across various state security agencies—including police officers, soldiers, and other security personnel mandated to eradicate the menace—are now actively allowing the practice to continue.
According to him, these officials routinely visit illegal mining sites to collect bribes, enabling the illegal operations to persist unabated.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Tetteh asserted that both the current and previous administrations have failed in their efforts to address galamsey.
”We have used the police and soldiers, and yet we have not been able to deal with the situation. It is also not surprising that nine Blue Water Guards have been arrested for accepting bribes and impersonating NAIMOS officials. From the previous government to this one, they have made very little effort in dealing with galamsey. The government is pretending to be fighting galamsey. It appears our authorities are not serious. Even licensed mining companies are breaching our laws.
”The worst part is that the police officers, soldiers, EPA officials, NADMO officials, and almost all our security services are compromised. The officials go there to accept bribes. That is what the illegal miners keep telling us. They are now protecting the illegal miners so they can make their money,” he stated.
He further described the government’s security advisors as “intellectually bankrupt” and accused them of failing to provide an accurate picture of the galamsey crisis to the state.
While acknowledging that it is “better late than never” regarding the government’s decision to establish military camps in communities affected by illegal mining, Mr Tetteh criticised the President for refusing to declare a State of Emergency despite the overwhelming evidence supporting such a move.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
