The Western Regional Police Commander DCOP Kwesi Mensah Duku, has stated that operations of galamsey have been on the increase in the region and the nation at large.
He said from intelligence gathered, it exposes the region to serious threats. He noted that their activities have caused considerable damage to the environment as well as polluting the water bodies in the region, adding the use of earth moving equipment’s to destroy evergreen forest regardless, of the mining and environmental laws.
What makes the situation at the galamsey sites aggravated is the improper use of explosives as well as hazardous and poisonous mining chemicals, he said.
The commander mentioned that, some operators associate themselves with narcotic drugs and proliferation of small arms such as locally made and imported pistols, pump action guns.
He added that, robbery cases are also prevalent at their camps sites "not to talk about the daily deaths of "galamseyers" and innocent victims."
He stressed that, REGSEC together with other stakeholders would continue to organize operations to flush out the galamsey operations from the area they are operating. He stated this during the 2016 annual WASSA for Police Personnel within Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis last Friday.
On crime DCOP Mensah-Duku said, in 2016, 13,487 was reported in the region as against 16,102 in 2015, which shows a decrease of 2,615 cases.
According to him, the regional command has also noted with grate concern the increase in crimes such as murder, robbery, defilement, rape, possessing of narcotic drugs and defrauding by false pretenses.
This he said the command will continue to work hard and adopt proactive and pragmatic strategies to reduce crime.
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