Operation Vanguard appeals to government for modern logistics

Operation Vanguard has arrested a total of 1,358 suspected illegal miners between January and May this year with most of the suspects falling in the youth category and constituting 74 per cent of the figure.

The Western region topped the list with 536 followed by Ashanti, Eastern and Central regions. 

The Commander of Operations Vanguard, Colonel Michael Amoah Ayisi, made this known at Obuasi during a Town hall meeting at the instance of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey.

The Meeting was attended by various stakeholders in the small scale mining sector to discuss the menace of illegal mining and why it should be stopped. 

According to Colonel Ayisi, results of an analysis of the profile of the suspects should give a good reason for the government to create more job openings for the youth to save the environment for current and future generations.

The Operations Commander disclosed also, that illegal miners have devised another means of going about their nefarious activities to outwit the security operatives.

He noted that most of the galamsey miners now operate more in the night after which they take away the crux for processing into Gold.

Colonel Ayisi therefore appealed to government to provide additional logistics such as improved lighting system to enable the security personnel adapt to the dynamics of the game.

The Production Officer of the Obuasi Water Station, Bortey Dawpra, lamented that the quality of the Oda River which serves as source of potable water for the people of Obuasi has been seriously compromised by activities of illegal miners. 

The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Kenneth Ashigbe, expressed concern about the high numbers of foreign nationals in the illegal mining activities in the country claiming that 89 percent of such suspects are Chinese. 

He advocated severer punishment for convicted suspects to motivate crusaders against the canker to sustain the fight. 

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