A suspected galamseyer has been killed and another injured following a gun battle between security operatives and a group of suspected illegal miners in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
The gunfire occurred during Operation GREEN SHIELD, leading to four other suspects, including three Malian nationals and a Ghanaian, being arrested during the operation.
According to the operational account, officers of the Anti-Small-Scale Mining Operations Brigade (ASOB) advanced approximately 10 kilometres into the forest after drone surveillance identified a suspected illegal mining site.
The team reportedly encountered about 50 suspected miners during a foot patrol conducted between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
However, the situation escalated when some of the miners allegedly opened fire after spotting the approaching security personnel, while others fled the scene.
The operatives returned fire, resulting in the death of one suspected illegal miner and injuries to another.
Also, two pump-action guns and six rounds of ammunition were subsequently recovered at the site, with the injured suspect receiving first aid before being taken to the Kyebi Government Hospital for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the four arrested galamsey suspects have been transferred to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) for further action.
The Operation GREEN SHIELD reportedly ended with no security personnel injured or killed during the operation.
In related news, Miracles Aboagye, the Director of Communications for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being an enabler of illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 31, Miracles Aboagye stated, “The NDC has always been an enabler of galamsey in this country since 2009. They have always been. Their history is there. Their records are there. Their facts are there”.
“The galamsey situation always worsens when the NDC comes to power. That is a fact. And the government that has never been able to show any proof of properly fighting galamsey is always the NDC,” he claimed.
He further told the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to take responsibility for the fight against illegal mining.
According to Miracles Aboagye, it has been 24 months since the Mahama government took over power, insisting that the party can no longer blame Akufo-Addo for the worsening galamsey situation.
Miracles Aboagye argued that the Mahama administration’s handling of illegal mining is a failure to fulfil its campaign promises, arguing that its performance so far had fallen short of expectations.
He further fumed at attempts to bring the former President into discussions about the current state of illegal mining.
Miracles Aboagye stated, “This is the evidence of how spectacular this NDC government has failed the people of this country on the back of their own promises and words”.
“One of the things I hate, and it pisses me off when it comes to the galamsey conversation, is when anybody tries to bring Akufo-Addo into it. Stop. Don’t do it. Take him out. It’s been 24 months,” he said.
Miracles Aboagye added, “He was vilified; called names. He was described in all manner of ways because of galamsey. For the first time in the history of this country, a political party and its allies staged demonstrations for a week non-stop on the streets of Accra”.
He recounted that the NDC had shifted from presenting illegal mining as a collective national challenge to placing responsibility squarely on the former President.
“We are beating about the bush and making it look like this galamsey conversation we are having is some Ghana problem and some citizens’ conversation. No, it’s not,” he said.
“So, the people are clear in their minds that, unlike the NPP and the Akufo-Addo administration, which considered galamsey a national problem, the NDC believes it is a government problem and that once it assumes office, galamsey will end,” he said.
“Let nobody pretend and be hypocritical. This government hasn’t done even 50% of what the Akufo-Addo government did in the fight against galamsey,” he said.
@ghnow_ STC has reportedly taken delivery of new buses as part of efforts to expand its fleet, improve intercity transport services and enhance the travel experience for passengers. #GHNow #fyp ♬ The Victory Of Mahama – Remix – NDC Music
@ghnow_ “We Have Turned Into Tortoises on the Road” – Bolt Driver on TrafficTech Rules #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
