The Western Regional Director of the Forestry Commission, Nana Kwabena Bosompim, has raised concerns that proceeds from illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, could be fueling conflicts in parts of Ghana, particularly in Bawku in the Upper East Region.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem following a raid and demolition exercise at an illegal mining settlement in the Subri Forest Reserve, Nana Bosompim disclosed that some of the individuals arrested identified themselves as natives of Bawku and other northern communities.
According to him, many of these young men confessed that the money they earn from galamsey is sent back home to support their families — some of whom are caught in the middle of the ongoing Bawku conflict.
“We came across people from the Upper East, Upper West, and Northern Regions. Many of them are from areas such as Bawku and Bolgatanga. They said they came to work so they can repackage the money and support their families in the conflict,” he revealed.
The Director further suggested that the situation bears signs of a militia-style network, with some of the miners allegedly working under duress.
“Some individuals told us that if they fail to send the monies, their families back home would be attacked. So this paints the picture that the galamsey menace could be aiding the Bawku conflict and possibly other conflicts in Ghana,” he added.
His remarks come amid renewed violence in Bawku, where the conflict has claimed several lives and left others injured. The Ghana Police Service has recently raised alarms over rising attacks on security personnel and their families in the area.
In response to the worsening security situation, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has placed a ban on the movement of officers and their relatives into Bawku.
Officers already stationed there have also been ordered to wear full protective gear and move only under armoured escort.
Listen to Nana Bosompim in the audio attached above:
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