Police Commanders in galamsey areas have been reshuffled by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
This move forms part of plans of the Ghana Police Service to reinforce its commitment to waging a relentless war against illegal mining activities.
The reshuffle, affecting Divisional and District Commanders mainly in the Eastern South, Western, and Western North Police Regions, marks the first phase of what is expected to be a series of nationwide changes aimed at injecting fresh energy into the fight against galamsey.
IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno’s reshuffling is in obedience to the order of Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak who ordered the re-assignment all regional, divisional, and district police commanders heading stations in mining areas in early April.
The decision aims to replace officers who have served in these regions for extended periods without effectively addressing illegal mining activities.
The minister emphasized that this directive is part of stringent measures to combat the menace.
With the command taking effect, affected commanders will be reassigned to non-mining areas, while their replacements will face a three-month probationary period to demonstrate their effectiveness in tackling illegal mining.
He noted that, those who fail to show results will be subject to further transfers.
“I have ordered the IGP to transfer all police commanders in mining areas and send in new ones. So, if you are a regional, divisional, or district police commander in a mining region, you will be changed with immediate effect”.
Speaking during an engagement with Imams and Zongo Chiefs in Kumasi, Muntaka Mubarak reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing this directive despite mounting pressure on the IGP to reconsider.
“The new ones we are taking there will be transferred after three months if they don’t perform. We will keep making changes till we see results”.
In a related development, the Ghana Police Service has made significant progress in its battle against illegal mining. A special four-day intelligence-led operation, which began on April 17, 2025, within the Samreboi enclave of the Western Region, has led to the arrest of 47 individuals involved in illegal mining along the Tano River and within the Aboi, Subri, and Nimiri forests.
The suspects include 39 Ghanaians, eight Chinese nationals, and four women.
Items retrieved during the operation include:
Seventeen (17) excavators
• One (1) bulldozer
• Four (4) motorbikes
Two (2) Toyota Hilux vehicles
• One (1) Toyota RAV4 vehicle
• Four (4) pump action guns
• One (1) single barrel gun
• Fifty-four (54) live BB cartridges
• Eight (8) pumping machines
All the suspects are currently in custody and will be processed according to the law as investigations continue.
The Police Service has indicated that more reshuffles and operations are planned as part of a broader strategy to dismantle illegal mining networks and protect Ghana’s natural resources.
