The government has dismissed one National Security operative and placed two others under investigation after their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region.
The development has intensified crackdown led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The dismissed officer, identified as Issah Yakubu, was sacked after preliminary findings linked him and two colleagues to a group of armed men who posed as National Security operatives and were arrested inside the Oda River Forest Reserve earlier this week.
The operation dismantled and burned several makeshift mining camps, tents, and wooden structures to prevent reoccupation by illegal miners.
“Major Jabari network”
Authorities have also opened a probe into a man known only as “Major Jabari,” suspected of running a protection racket for illegal mining operations across parts of the region.
Investigators say efforts are underway to confirm his true identity and connections to the arrested operatives.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has described the coordinated security action as “a model of inter-agency integrity and enforcement,” reaffirming that the government’s anti-galamsey campaign will continue “without fear or favour.”
“No individual, group, or impostor will be allowed to exploit Ghana’s natural resources with impunity,” said one of the operation’s commanders.
NAIMOS, the commander added, will sustain operations to “identify, dismantle, and neutralize” illegal mining activities nationwide to safeguard forests and water bodies for future generations.
Source: Asaaseradio.com
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