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
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
