Some National Security operatives attempt to abscond with seized galamsey excavators

Share this

JoyNews has learned that a group of security operatives, who identified themselves as members of the National Security, allegedly attempted to remove five heavy-duty excavators from the office yard of the Ashanti Regional Forestry Commission.

According to JoyNews‘ environmental journalist, Erastus Asare Donkoh, who has been closely covering the issue of illegal mining (galamsey) in the country, the armed men stormed the premises of the commission and made off with five of the machines.

Erastus reported that the men claimed they were acting on orders from a higher political authority to take the seized machines.

He noted that there was a confrontation between the commission’s officers and the security personnel, but the officers were overpowered, and the machines were driven away.

However, shortly after the machines were taken, the security men returned all five excavators to the commission. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the so-called political authority had ordered the return of the machines.

Erastus explained that these excavators had been seized by the commission from illegal miners operating within forest reserves in the Ashanti region.

At the time of this report, JoyNews could not confirm the individuals behind the action.

“It is still unclear who directed that the seized excavators from the Kyemira extension of Offin Shelter Belt should be returned or released,” he told Maame Esi Nyamekye Thompson on Joy FM’s midday news on Tuesday, 29th April.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com


Share this

Kennedy Mornah is an Award Winning Ghanaian Journalist with over two decades of experience in the Ghanaian Media landscape spanning the electronic, print and digital media. He is a Media Consultant, a Corporate MC, Radio and TV Host, Founder and Publisher of the Maritime and Transport Digest Newspaper, Businessman, a Go getter and an optimist. He has worked for renowned media organizations including Diamond Fm in Tamale, Luv Fm in Kumasi, Oman Fm in Accra and Starr Fm in Accra In 2017 he received the Reporter of the Year Award at the Ghana Shippers Awards in Accra, Ghana.

Leave a Reply

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.