Features
‘Galamsey assault’: Investigate and punish ‘the rogue soldiers’
Wikipedia says, ‘a rogue’ is a dishonest or unprincipled person.
Synonyms for ‘rogue’ include; rascal, wretch, son of a bitch, vagabond, scoundrel, crook, miscreant, imp, rat and dog.
Webster’s Dictionary also defines ‘assault’ as; “make physical attack on.” Synonyms for ‘assault’ include; beat, cane, hit, punch, pummel, pound, wallop, rough up, whip, smack, thrash, abuse and molest.
Some military officers are alleged to have ‘brutally assaulted’ members of a task force set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, to check activities of ‘galamseyers’ at Enchi and Asankragwa in the Western Region of the country.
Reportedly, the ‘unspeakable assault’ inflicted on the task force by the ‘rogue soldiers’ was recorded on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at Asankragwa.
According to Ghanaweb, a lady who identified herself as Mabel Hammond , working at the Office of the President, told ‘the assaulting soldiers’ that the task force was “commissioned” by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to apprehend illegal miners, ‘on or near water bodies’ and hand them over to the police.
Media reports indicate that while the ‘rogue soldiers’ were supposedly ‘interrogating’ members of the task force, they were as well, assaulting and brutalising them in the process.
Ghanaweb says, while the so-called interrogation was on-going, sounds of whipping and commanding shouts such as, “heads-up”, “heads-up”, “heads-up”, were heard in the background.
Reportedly, ‘the rogue soldiers’ ‘arrested’ members of the task force at Wassa Akropong and after brutalising them, transported them all the way from the Western North Region to the Obuasi Central Police Station in the Central Region.
What the soldiers themselves were doing in the galamsey enclaves at that material time , is yet to be established , but a statement issued by the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr George Mireku Duker, has confirmed the appointment of the task force by the Ministry.
The statement said the task force was dispatched to Enchi upon information that some galamseyers were busy at work in the Enchi area.
According to the statement, while reporting back to Accra after their assignment in the region, the task force identified an illegal mining site along the Manso-Amenfi road and so they effected the arrest of two persons.
“The Deputy Minister in-charge of Mining was duly informed and they were advised to contact the District Chief Executive for the conveyance of the two excavators from the site to the Amenfi Central District Assembly”, the statement added.
The statement further said:”A Chinese national and a Ghanaian were arrested during the operation and handed over to the Manso-Amenfi police.
“On their way back to Accra after the arrest, some military personnel accosted them around Wassa Akropong and purportedly brutalised the team and took them to the Obuasi Central Police Station.”
Readers, do you remember Operation Vanguard? It was a military-cum police joint task force set up by President Akufo-Addo in 2017 to combat the activities of galamseyers in the country.
And who are the galamseyers? They are illegal miners spread across the country, depleting Ghana’s forest cover and destroying the nation’s precious water bodies with impunity.
As a matter of fact, many Ghanaians lauded the initial efforts of members of Operation Vanguard in checking the activities of the galamseyers. The job at hand was, no doubt , a Herculean one.
Some critics, however, say “one of the principal reasons Operation Vanguard failed ‘woefully’ was the indisputable fact that some of its members ‘balooned’ in the pockets of the illegal miners.”
The critics contend that:”Instead of defending the ‘bigger’ national interest, some of the members of Operation Vanguard were rather ‘arresting’ the gold they seized from the illegal miners and ‘detaining’ such gold in their own bags and haversacks.”
Such critics are still contending that the soldiers who assaulted the civilian task force recently set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, may be the direct ‘professional cousins’ of the soldiers who ‘derailed’ the ‘fire-power’ of the ‘original Operation Vanguard’.
They ask:”What was the ‘motivation’ of the soldiers in their assault on members of the civilian task force, instead of collaborating with them?
“Was it the case that the soldiers had been compromised by the illegal miners who were arrested by the task force?
“In any case, is ‘brutal assault’ the only ‘tool’ to ‘elicit’ information from ‘suspects’? “
Indeed, well-meaning Ghanaians are calling for ‘quick’ and ‘proper’ investigation into the ‘nauseating’ assault on the task force set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
They are of the view that the soldiers involved in the assault, must be identified and quickly investigated by the state and if found culpable, be severely dealt with according to the law.
They insist that the outcome of the investigation must be published and given wide publicity, instead of keeping it on the shelves.
Really, some Ghanaians strongly believe that the national galamsey-war will be won if there is effective collaboration between ‘carefully selected security human capital’ and the civilian population.
They assert that the state security agencies alone cannot win ‘the galamsey-war’ , insisting that” disciplined, loyal, dedicated, patriotic and nationalistic state security officers ought to be identified and selected to collaborate with carefully selected civilians to win ‘the galamsey-war’.
So, over to you; the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and your surbodinates.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of the author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asamah
In a country like ours in which we are aware of our challenges, all that is required is focusing on strengthening our institutional processes by making them more robust and transparent. In this regard, investment in digitilisation must be prioritised since the human element to cut corners is inherent in the psyche of some people and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right things out of their own volition.
Enforcement of existing laws and regulations must be reviewed to see what is working, which ones have to be tweaked to be able to address current challenges, and those that have become obsolete and must be discarded.
One issue that needs to be given priority attention is remuneration. A former President is alleged to declare that we pretend to pay workers and they also pretend to work. This indeed sums up the quandary facing government after government. Workers’ salaries are crucial in the fight against corruption. A realistic living wage must be given to workers; otherwise, they will seek avenues to address their personal budget deficit.
On day one, what should engage the attention of government is Energy, making it available and affordable. The industrialisation agenda cannot be successfully executed without power that is readily available, reliable, and affordable. Solar energy must be factored in the quest for affordable and reliable power for industry.
The fuel sector issues must be urgently addressed so that it can impact positively on the transportation sector, which plays a key role in the supply of goods and services. The railway infrastructure plan linking places like Boankra Inland Port to prolong the lifespan of our roads and to fast track distribution of goods from the Capital City to the inland areas of the country should be a top priority item.
A well-structured system linking industry to academia must be quickly established to serve as a catalyst towards the industrialisation drive. Research findings from the universities must be channelled to captains of industry in a timely manner. Effective channels of communication should be established to facilitate shorter product-to-market times.
An effective mechanism for fishing out needy but talented children must be established, as well as a sponsorship package for talented individuals who are needed for certain critical areas of the economy — what I term critical investment in education.
Certain changes must be made in the constitution, particularly the appointment of the heads of certain constitutional bodies or institutions. This is to ensure that the Executive arm of government does not wield too much power to ensure accountability and checks and balances really work.
The Attorney General’s Office must be detached from the Executive arm of government. The Nolle Prosequi provision must also be amended to compel the Attorney General to give an explanation of why he or she is declining to prosecute a particular case or discontinue it. The provision that protects sitting Presidents from prosecution must also be reviewed.
The punishment for some of our laws needs a review. We must review the removal of CJ provision to ensure the independence of the Judiciary.
Above all, there must be a mindset of change, i.e., a paradigm shift from inability to capability. Inferiority complex must give way to a pacesetters mentality, and all will be well. God bless.
NB: KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH
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Features
The impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures
Abstract
THIS comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of emotional surgery and emotional elysium on neurological and neurosurgical procedures. We examine the scientific literature on these approaches, including their definitions, theoretical frameworks, and applications. Our analysis highlights the potential benefits and risks of these approaches and discusses their implications for practice.
Introduction
Neurological and neurosurgical procedures are complex and delicate, requiring precision and accuracy to achieve optimal outcomes. Emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of these procedures. Emotional surgery involves the use of art and other creative techniques to promote relaxation and reduce stress, while emotional elysium focuses on cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being.
The Role of Emotional Surgery in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, emotional surgery can help patients prepare for procedures, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
The Role of Emotional Elysium in Neurological and Neurosurgical Procedures
Emotional elysium has been shown to be effective in promoting emotional balance and resilience in patients undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By cultivating positive emotions and promoting emotional well-being, emotional elysium can help patients cope with the stress and trauma associated with these procedures, leading to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life.
Benefits of Emotional Surgery and Emotional Elysium
The benefits of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures are numerous. These approaches can:
- Reduce anxiety and stress: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients manage anxiety and stress, leading to improved outcomes and faster recovery times.
- Improve emotional regulation: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can help patients regulate their emotions, leading to improved mental health and well-being.
- Enhance patient experience: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium can improve the patient experience, leading to increased satisfaction and improved outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to enhance the success of neurological and neurosurgical procedures. By reducing anxiety and stress, promoting emotional balance and resilience, and improving patient experience, these approaches can lead to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients undergoing these procedures.
Recommendations
- Further research is needed: More research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of emotional surgery and emotional elysium in neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
- Integration into practice: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium should be considered for integration into practice, as they may offer a valuable tool in the treatment of a range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.
By exploring innovative approaches like emotional surgery and emotional elysium, we can improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals undergoing neurological and neurosurgical procedures.
BY ROBERT EKOW GRIMMOND-THOMPSON
