Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, Central Regional Minister (3 from R)
Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, has asked security agencies, particularly the police, to treat illegal mining as a serious offense requiring urgent and decisive intervention to halt its devastating effects on the nation.
He noted that illegal mining was not just an environmental concern but a severe criminal act that undermined national efforts toward sustainable development and environmental governance.
Consequently, he charged the police to crack down on the menace, as calls grew for action following the Regional Security Council’s visit to some ‘galamsey’-endemic communities in the region.
Addressing police personnel at the Central Command on Tuesday as part of his official visit to state institutions, departments, and agencies, he regretted the connivance of some self-seeking security personnel with miners in the fight against galamsey.
The Minister said: “Illegal mining is worrying in the Central Region. In some areas in the Fosu Municipality and Upper Denkyira East and West Districts, the actors in galamsey include the miners, some Chiefs, and some security personnel who are clandestinely complicit.
“The perception is that some security personnel pretend to fight against the menace, yet they are part of it. I think the best way to go is to remain as neutral as possible.”
Eduamoah reminded the security agencies of their obligation to work without fear or favor, irrespective of the personalities involved, to ensure justice. He emphasized that this was the only way to discourage obstruction of justice in the country.
He urged security personnel not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to achieve selfish interests, particularly in dealing with criminals who violate the law with impunity.
He stressed the importance of strict enforcement of the rule of law, stating: “It is imperative to arrest and prosecute politicians who engage in the menace or interfere with the law.
“It is becoming increasingly unacceptable that some activities of some politicians in this country encourage lawlessness and a culture of impunity. We must help end it.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Adu, the Central Regional Commander, described the region as welcoming, peaceful, and progressively open to business.
However, he lamented the rising chieftaincy disputes, particularly before annual festival celebrations, as a red flag.
Nonetheless, he assured that the police would continue to maintain law and order whenever such disturbances erupted. He also appealed to the Regional House of Chiefs to expedite the resolution of chieftaincy disputes to maintain the region’s enviable reputation as a “heaven of peace and harmony.”
Touching on the state of police affairs, DCOP Adu stated that the region, with a population of more than two million, had a police staff strength of 1,317.
The region has three Regional Police Commands—Central North, Central North East, and Central—with 18 police districts, 47 police stations, and five Divisions: Winneba, Dawurampong, Mankessim, Agona Swedru, and Cape Coast.
He appealed to the public to support the police in maintaining law and order by volunteering information to security agencies to help arrest offenders.
