Some security personnel at Sefwi Jusboso in the Western North Region have been accused of extorting huge sums of money from illegal miners or ‘galamseyers’ in the area after arresting them.
The accusation called for an emergency District Security Council (DISEC) meeting when the report reached the Jusboso District Chief Executive (DCE), Alexander Adu Quist.
The minutes of the meeting, a copy of which is in DAILY GUIDE’s possession indicated that all DISEC members were present.
It was made known at the meeting that DISEC had received several reports that Police from the regional command and military personnel stationed in the Boako Bank of Ghana frequently went round to arrest illegal miners.
According to the meeting’s minutes, after arresting the illegal miners the security personnel allegedly extort huge sums of money from the miners.
It was also revealed that the Sefwi Asawinso police patrol team and personnel from the Regional Immigration service also move round from time to time to extort money from the galamseyers.
At the meeting, the DCE indicated that he had no problem with the arrest of the illegal miners to help curb illegal mining activities in the area.
“But if the motive of the arrest is to extort money from the illegal miners then that is uncalled for”, he added.
When DAILY GUIDE contacted the DCE, Alexander Adu Quist and asked whether the alleged behavior of the security personnel had come to his notice, he remarked “In fact like you have asked people can come with information”.
“So I have tasked my security people to investigate. As we speak we have not been able to ascertain the allegation,” he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi