The three suspects
The Military High Command has suspended three soldiers, who were part of Operation Vanguard, the joint taskforce tackling illegal mining (galamsey), for their alleged involvement in an illegal operation while on duty.
Their names were given as L/Cpl Boateng Shradrack, L/Cpl Obeng Seth and L/Cpl Paul Nkuah Attah.
According to sources, the three were part of about seven military and police personnel, who went for an operation at a ‘galamsey’ site at Wassa Atieku in the Western Region last Wednesday.
The three military men purportedly seized gold concentrate, popularly called ‘black’ by the local people, from a supposed ‘galamseyer.’
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the suspects, who went to the ‘galamsey’ site in a Toyota Hilux Pick-up with registration number GC 7920-12, carried out the alleged operation without the consent of the commanders of the joint taskforce.
According to the police, on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at about 4.15 am, Police Lance Corporal Araba Botwe and Lance Corporal Regina Duodu of Wassa Akropong had information from one Mensah Sani, aged 47, about the alleged illegal operation.
The police, therefore, mounted surveillance on the suspects in Wassa Japa.
Whilst there, the Mbrantiehene of Japa, whose name was given only as Kofi, told the police that the uniformed men were moving towards Akropong.
A civilian driver, Fianyo Richard, attached to the group escaped arrest, but his driving licence was seized.
Items retrieved from the soldiers included 3 SM rifles with 52 live cartridges, four mobile phones, three sets of military uniform and a set of police uniform.
DSP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Regional Police Public Relations officer (PRO), indicated that the case has been taken over by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations.
Military’s Response
A statement issued by the Military High Command on the matter indicated that the High Command, which abhors such misconduct by troops, had accordingly suspended two of the soldiers from their duties with Operation Vanguard.
According to the statement, the three military personnel had been placed under close arrest at the 2nd Battalion of Infantry in Takoradi as part of investigations.
It said disciplinary action would be taken against them, if found culpable.
The statement, signed by the Director of Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Col E. Aggrey-Quashie, noted that the three soldiers and their accomplices tried to extort money from some illegal miners in the Wassa Akropong area.
“The Military High Command wishes to assure the general public that under no circumstances will it condone such unprofessional conduct by any member of the Ghana Armed Forces,” the statement said.
“In the meantime, personnel of Operation Vanguard would continue to perform their assigned tasks to ensure that their mandate is achieved.”
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi