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NPP youth wing urges Mahama to declare state of emergency on galamsey
The National Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency to tackle illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.
In a statement signed by National Youth Organizer Salam Mustapha, the youth wing expressed alarm over recent events in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) boss, Prof. Nana Ama Klutse, and her team were reportedly forced to flee from heavily armed galamsey operators.
The group, some dressed in CID vests, allegedly outgunned security personnel during the incident.
The statement described the situation as “frightening” and accused the galamsey operators of bold audacity and impunity.
It criticized the National Security Secretariat for directing the EPA team to retreat, which reportedly resulted in a serious accident.
The NPP youth wing also called for the dismissal of all metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in areas affected by galamsey, suggesting that some may have failed in their duties or been complicit.
They further accused the President’s Asutifi North MP of leading thugs to attack a team combating illegal mining, challenging presidential authority.
“Danger beckons, and your inaction will break the camel’s back,” the statement warned, urging immediate action to curb the menace.
Galamsey has been a persistent environmental and security challenge in Ghana, with recent reports highlighting growing violence and clashes between illegal miners and authorities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
