Prime News Ghana

Punishment given to illegal miners not deterrent enough - Operation Vanguard

By Clement Edward Kumsah
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The Commander of the national anti-galamsey task force, Operation Vanguard, Colonel Michael Amoah-Ayisi has said due to the slow pace of prosecution, many illegal miners and their financiers are more motivated than deterred to act with impunity.

Speaking to journalists, the commander stated that out of the 983 illegal miners arrested since Operation Vanguard commenced, only 95 people have appeared in Court, with the majority granted bail.

He added that because the arrested illegal miners have not been surcharged or punished severely, more natives are encouraged to revive galamsey activities, especially at night.

In 2017, the former Commander of Operation Vanguard, Colonel William Agyapong also expressed worry the extent of punishment meted out to illegal miners arrested by the anti-galamsey task-force.

According to him, the sentences given by the court to the illegal miners were not deterrent enough hence a disincentive to the fight against illegal mining in the country.

Illegal Miners

The anti-galamsey task-force was deployed to three regions; Ashanti, Western and Eastern about five months ago, to help sustain and the fight against illegal mining.

The deployment of the joint police and military task-force came as a major boost to government’s fight against illegal mining in the country, following news of its devastating effects on the country’s land and water resources.

Colonel Michael Amoah-Ayisi emphasized that though the current happening would not affect the work of Operation Vanguard, however, if a frightening punishment is meted out to culprits, it will help reduce the illegal activities drastically.

The Government of Ghana placed a six-month ban on all forms of mining until further notice, but later extended the ban to January 2018, because the needed result has not been achieved.

 

primenewsghana.com/Ghana News