Arrest gang leaders of hidden galamsey settlement – Prof Appiagyei-Atua

Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, a law lecturer at the University of Ghana, has called for the arrest of gang leaders. These leaders operate in a hidden galamsey settlement recently destroyed by the military in the Western Region.

He believes that without capturing these gang leaders, illegal mining will continue. The settlement may simply re-establish itself after its destruction.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Prof Appiagyei-Atua said the military's actions were necessary. However, they only addressed part of the issue. The real problem lies with the gang leaders managing these operations.

He noted that settlements like this one are emerging frequently. This particular settlement had over 10,000 residents and had existed for some time. There were clear signs of ongoing activity and involvement from many people.

The law professor emphasized the need for better intelligence gathering before such operations. He stated that understanding the situation fully is crucial for effective action. Knowing how many people were present would help in planning adequately.

Prof Appiagyei-Atua suggested deploying more armed personnel during operations. Better coordination is essential to capture as many individuals as possible, especially gang leaders.

He highlighted that targeting these leaders is vital to addressing illegal mining effectively. According to him, there have been no reports of arrests or captures of specific gang leaders so far.

These leaders control operations and collect taxes within their settlements. Without addressing them directly, he argued, solving the problem will be impossible.

The professor also expressed concern about authorities' preparedness for recent operations. He pointed out claims of lacking resources to arrest around 2,000 individuals involved in illegal mining activities.

“This indicates a serious failure in intelligence and preparation,” he said. If authorities could not apprehend those involved, it raises questions about their planning efforts.

Prof Appiagyei-Atua called for a more strategic approach in future operations. He warned that resistance may increase if gang networks are not dismantled soon. Without focusing on arresting gang leaders, he cautioned that illegal mining issues will persist and worsen.