Some National Security operatives attempt to abscond with seized galamsey excavators

JoyNews reports that a group of security operatives claimed to be from National Security. They allegedly tried to remove five heavy-duty excavators from the Ashanti Regional Forestry Commission's yard.

Environmental journalist Erastus Asare Donkoh has been covering illegal mining issues. He reported that armed men entered the commission's premises and took the machines.

The men said they were following orders from a higher political authority. There was a confrontation between the commission’s officers and the security personnel. However, the officers were overpowered, and the machines were driven away.

Shortly after taking the excavators, the security operatives returned them to the commission. It was revealed that a political authority had ordered their return.

Erastus explained that these excavators had been seized from illegal miners in forest reserves. At this time, JoyNews could not confirm who was behind this action.

“It is still unclear who directed that the seized excavators should be returned,” he told Maame Esi Nyamekye Thompson on Joy FM’s midday news on Tuesday, April 29th.