The Ministry of National Security is denying media reports suggesting that, its operatives arrested by the youth of Akyem AKanteng in West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.
According to a statement issued to the media, the alleged operatives are not from the Ministry of National Security, but rather were engaged by a contract staff at the Ministry.
The Ministry in a statement issued on its behalf by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on May 7, 2021, stated that “preliminary investigation conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau revealed that the persons arrested are not staff or operatives of the Ministry of National Security. The arrested persons named a contract staff of the Ministry as the one who engaged them for the said activity.”
The youth of Akyem Akanteng on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, invaded the Atewa Forest Reserve to arrest about 17 illegal miners including 14 National Security Operatives who claimed to be working at the Jubilee House.
The National Security Operatives sneaked into the forest at dawn to illegally mine gold.
The youth of Akyem Akanteng massed up and invaded the forest, disarmed the Operatives, and rounded them up before handing them over to the Forestry Commission and Police who later came to the community.
The five vehicles used by the operatives were also vandalized with some of their tyres deflated.
The damaged vehicles included a Tundra with registration number NR 9706-20 , Toyota Hilux with registration number GT 9683-14 and Nissan Patrol GR with registration number GW 1966-12.
But the statement indicated that “upon completion of preliminary interrogation, both the arrested persons and the said contractor have all been remanded and are due to be arraigned before the court”.
The Ministry reiterated the commitment of the government to the fight against illegal mining in the country but warned against persons parading as National Security operatives perpetrating a crime.
Lands
Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has ordered for the disbandment of all unauthorized parallel security task force operating in illegal mining sites.
A statement issued by the Ministry said “I refer to the ongoing security operation, dubbed “Operation Halt”, mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces to preserve the “Red Zones”, i.e our Water bodies and Forest Reserves. The operation is being conducted under the express instruction of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and is being overseen by the Ministry of National Security”.
The statement added “It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that certain unauthorized “Task Forces” and/or security operatives have taken advantage of the ongoing Operation Halt to harass small scale miners across the country.
For the avoidance of doubt, Government is not against lawful, regulated, and sustainable small-scale mining. ‘Operation Halt’ relates exclusively to the purging of our water bodies and forest reserves of illegal small-scale mining.
The Minister stated emphatically that, ”the operations of all such unauthorized Task Forces and/or parallel Security Outfits should cease and be disbanded with immediate effect”.
The Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to realize the national policy on small-scale mining, which is to preserve our water bodies, forest reserves, and sanitize the sector.
The statement has been issued at the back of the arrest of some National Security Operatives allegedly stationed at Jubilee House.
The suspects last Friday were moved from Eastern Regional Police headquarters to Accra by armed military men for screening.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Koforidua