The Minister of Defense, Dominic Nitiwul has justified the burning of some excavators at illegal mining sites in the country.
According to him, the illegal miners popularly known as galamseyers deliberately immobilize the excavators by removing the control boards to make it impossible for members of Operation Vanguard to move them from the site.
Hon. Nitiwul’s comment comes after the anti-galamsey taskforce reportedly invaded Extra Gold Company at Akyem Banso in the Eastern region and set some excavators of the company ablaze.
Operation Vanguard made of up armed Military/Police personnel came under a barrage of attacks for burning excavators instead of sending them to the police station.
But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Dominic Nitiwul said the anti-galamsey taskforce cannot be blamed.
He explained that, the team was constrained by the illegal miners, who were bent on frustrating them.
“The provocation was becoming too much. These illegal miners removed the control boards from the excavators and it becomes very difficult for them to move it” he added.
Expressing worry over the level of destruction by illegal miners, the Defense Minister said the indiscipline by some of the illegal miners is affecting the operation.
This notwithstanding, Mr Nitiwul urged members of the taskforce to be professional in their operation.
“I know that the men and women of the Ghana armed forces are professionals, the men and women of the police service are professionals and that you will do a professional job,” he said.
He also thanked mining communities across the country for supporting Operation Vanguard with information to end illegal mining in Ghana.
Defense Minister ‘justifies’ burning of excavators
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