The Graphic Communications Group (GCGL) has petitioned the Police Administration to take measures to investigate and arrest a man who claims to be involved in illegal gold mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The petition, which was signed on its behalf by the Managing Director, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Apeatu, stated that the investigation was necessary to send a strong signal to the public that the Ghana Police Service would not condone any acts of illegality as far as galamsey was concerned.
Bronxy’s video
Last week, a video was shared on social media showing a man who described himself as a galamsey businessman and dared the government and asked it to rethink its position on fighting galamsey operators.
He introduced himself as a resident of East Legon, near American House in Accra, and said he was popularly known as Bronxy One (Bronxy Baako P3). He is believed to have taken the video from a mining site.
He claimed he owned the pit, which had dozens of illegal miners working in it at the time he shot the video. He also showed off an excavator which he said he owned and was being used for his operations.
He asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to rethink his commitment to fight illegal mining and sent an open invitation to the government to come after him, if it so wished.
The man said some of his workers were able to earn GH¢50, GH¢60, GH¢100 and GH¢200 a day.
Security threat
The GCGL said it was inappropriate and unfortunate for any Ghanaian to go that far to dare the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Such an act, it noted, was not only a security breach, but threatened the very peace the nation was enjoying.
“First of all, it was wrong for this man to have done that simply because of galamsey which is killing many lives.
“So I am officially petitioning the Police Administration on behalf of the GCGL to look into the matter and possibly arrest the person who made the claims because it does not auger well for our security,” he said.
Fight against galamsey
Mr Ashigbey further indicated that the media would continue to fight galamsey through the platforms of the GCGL, and called for the full support of the police, reports Charles Andoh.
Receiving the petition, Mr Asante-Apeatu commended the initiative taken by Mr Ashigbey and the entire media fraternity in their effort to fight the menace.
He also indicated that the service had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the media over the years, and that “the police will continue to partner with the media to enhance the peace and security of the nation.”
He assured the public that the police would soon take steps to investigate the matter.
“The Ghana Police Service is up to its task, and will not condone any act of impunity that might threaten the peace and security of the nation,” he stated.
Insecurity at Nweneso Number One
Meanwhile, a former Presiding Member of the Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly in the Ashanti Region, Mr Tony Yeboah-Asare, has made a passionate appeal to the authorities to save Nweneso Number One, a predominantly farming community in the district, from further destruction by galamsey operators, reports Kwame Asare Boadu.
He said there was insecurity in the town as illegal miners had invaded the town with their activities.
A prominent citizen of the town, Mr Yeboah-Asare, who is an Accra-based architect, warned that the very existence of the once vibrant farming community was under risk.
“I can tell you that there is a state of insecurity in the town as we speak,” he told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday..
Nweneso Number One is one of the galamsey-ravaged communities in the Ashanti Region.
Demonstration
Giving further details about the state of insecurity in the town, he said about a month ago, the people of the town staged a peaceful demonstration against the continued destruction of farmlands and pollution of rivers by illegal miners in the area.
Surprisingly, he stated, the police went in to arrest the demonstrators, but a number of the demonstrators fled.
Mr Yeboah-Asare welcomed the campaign launched by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey to stop the illegal activity but indicated that the fight was going to be tough, looking at the “big fishes” behind the galamsey activities.
Nonetheless, he urged the media to sustain the momentum so that success would be achieved.
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