After a tragic clash in Bonteso that left some community members injured and arrested, including their assembly member, NDC National Organizer, Joseph Yamin, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to put an immediate stop to all anti-galamsey task force operations.
Yamin, with his voice heavy with concern, visited Bonteso alongside the Deputy National Secretary Mustapha Gbande.
Meeting with distraught residents, local chiefs, and even police commanders, Yamin didn’t hold back his frustration with the task force’s actions.
“What happened here was not about fighting illegal mining,” he declared with all seriousness. “It’s about extorting money and creating problems for hardworking Ghanaians.
“I’m urging President Mahama, as a matter of urgency, to step in and order the IGP and the Interior Minister to pull these task forces back,” Yamin continued, his passion palpable. “How can they claim to be enforcing the law when they’re just lining their own pockets?”
Yamin didn’t mince words when questioning the task force’s methods.
“Are we saying every miner in Ghana is breaking the law? Do they even bother checking permits, or is it just about strong-arming people for cash? These are questions that need answers”, he said.
He went on to emphasise the need for education and dialogue to solve the problem of illegal mining, rather than resorting to heavy-handed tactics.
“If we don’t change course, some people will get rich while the real problems remain unsolved,” he warned.
Yamin’s call follows the growing concerns that have ignited following the Bonteso incident, leading to people asking whether these task forces are truly protecting Ghana’s resources or are they simply creating more harm than good.
While some describe the clash as very unfortunate, others have labelled the anti-galamsey task force’s approach very intimidating and a human rights abuse.
Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s upcoming documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: