The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Juaben, Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu, has accused police officers within the Konongo and Bekwai Police Divisions of the Ashanti Region for allegedly frustrating efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities otherwise known as galamsey in the municipality.
According to her, the overlapping police jurisdictions make it difficult to effectively deal with illegal miners operating in the area.
Speaking to the media during an operation against illegal mining activities on July 16, 2026, she explained how several attempts made by the assembly to stop illegal miners have been undermined by jurisdictional challenges involving the police.
She further indicated that although the assembly has consistently moved to combat the menace and reclaim degraded lands, the efforts are unsuccessful.
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“We came here as part of an operation against illegal miners, and honestly, this has become a major headache for me as the MCE for Juaben. We have come here several times to stop these activities, but the main challenge is that the police jurisdiction for this area falls under Konongo and Bekwai,” she said.
The MCE alleged that on some occasions, police officers from the other jurisdictions have intervened after illegal miners were confronted, allowing the miners to continue their activities.
She said the situation has weakened the assembly’s ability to enforce measures against illegal mining and protect lands affected by the practice.
“When you stop them, the police people will also come around from Konongo and Bekwai. They will come around and give them the motivation to continue doing it,” she alleged.
The MCE said she had previously instructed police officers under her municipality to patrol the affected areas, but they informed her that they lacked authority because the locations were outside their jurisdiction.
She therefore appealed to the government and the Interior Minister, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, to consider establishing a Police Command in Juaben to help strengthen security operations and tackle illegal mining.
“I have made the media help me so that my president, Hon Muntaka, will hear of me and give us a Police Command for Juaben so that we can control this area and stop these illegal mining activities because it is very serious,” she said.
Galamsey continues to be a major environmental challenge in the country.
See the video below:
Juaben MCE Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu has accused police officers within the Konongo and Bekwai Police Divisions of allegedly colluding with illegal miners, saying overlapping police jurisdictions are hampering efforts to tackle galamsey in the municipality.#ChannelOneNews… pic.twitter.com/6KRnlbzJBZ
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) July 16, 2026
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