COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of operations.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has reaffirmed the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to sustained, tactical engagement in the fight against illegal mining, or galamsey, as authorities step up efforts to safeguard Ghana’s fragile forest reserves.
In an exclusive interview with this paper, Mr Yohuno described the anti-galamsey campaign as “arduous” but well within the capacity of the Police Service, provided there is consistent policy backing and logistical reinforcement.
“I have deployed a permanent team to stay in the forest until the last galamseyer is dislodged,” the IGP declared, citing the Western Region’s Samreboi enclave as a strategic site of ongoing enforcement.
Tactical Presence and Field Rotation
Since a recent raid in Samreboi, police teams have maintained a continuous presence in the forest, aiming to prevent the re-emergence of mining operations. The deployment forms part of a broader national strategy to combat environmental degradation and reclaim state control over protected lands.
To safeguard the credibility of operations, the Police Service has introduced a rotation policy limiting field teams to ten-day assignments in galamsey-prone zones.
“Familiarity breeds contempt,” Mr Yohuno noted, underscoring concerns that prolonged exposure may undermine discipline. “We’re rotating both commanders and teams to ensure accountability and operational integrity.”
Working with Communities, Securing Equipment
The Police Service, he added, is actively collaborating with local communities to enhance intelligence gathering and foster public trust. Community engagement, the IGP said, is essential to dismantling entrenched illegal mining networks and restoring ecological balance.
A parallel effort is being made to recover and secure equipment used in illicit mining. Officers have received training in the operation and handling of excavators — a critical shift, Mr Yohuno explained, that allows for prompt relocation of machinery seized during field operations.
“Our men can now move the excavators to secure sites like the Akonta Mining area, where 55 machines are currently being held,” he said. The measure, he added, ensures both oversight and prevention of re-use.
Long Road Ahead
Mr Yohuno was unequivocal in his commitment: “We shall continue to dwell in the forest until the illegal activities are brought under control.”
His remarks come at a time of heightened public scrutiny over the effectiveness of government interventions in the galamsey crisis. Civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and opposition parties have all raised concerns about ongoing environmental damage and the slow pace of systemic reform.
While the enhanced role of the Police Service has been praised by some environmental advocates, others insist that long-term success will require not only enforcement but also stronger prosecutorial outcomes, alternative livelihoods for mining communities, and depoliticised institutional coordination.
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