Anti-galamsey taskforce not responsible for the death of 4 galamseyers – Atiwa youth speaks

The Youth of Atiwa in the Eastern region has called on the Ghana Police to undertake a thorough investigation to disclose the cause of
death of the 4 men who were found dead in a galamsey pit in Akukuso in the Atiwa West District.

A member of the Atiwa Youth Association, Mr. Kudjo Okyere said on Onua FM’s morning show that the publications circulating in both social and main stream media may have been twisted to give a bad name to the anti-galamsey taskforce commissioned by Nana Akufo Addo to curb illegal mining.

Kudjo Okyere said that, even though they as an association cannot independently confirm those behind these heinous killings, it is also not right to claim that it was the military taskforce and it will be advisable for the police hierarchy to investigate the matter and brings the matter to a logical conclusion.

He said, “We're entreating the public to ignore all claims that the 4 deaths were caused by the anti-galamsey taskforce deployed into the area".

When the dead bodies of the alleged galamseyers were found, there wasn't any sign of a gunshot on their bodies.The Youth Association expressed these sentiments in a statement on Monday morning.

Find their statement below:

STOP MISLEADING THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE DEATH OF THE FOUR GALAMSEYERS IN ATIWA DISTRICT

The Atiwa Youth Association (AYA)
 The attention of the AYA has been drawn to publications circulating in both the electronic and social media concerning the unfortunate death of four galamseyers at Akukuso in the Atiwa West District, a suburb of Kwabeng.

 AYA is also calling on the Ghana police to undertake a thorough investigation to bring out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Some of the Publications circulating in the media have been twisted to claim that their death was caused by the anti-galamsey taskforce that has been deployed to the area.

This allegation circulating in the media was orchestrated by the opposition party in other to win a political point out of it.

Fortunately, Vanguard taskforce haven't operated in the Atiwa district for the past 3 days, the Divisional Police Command at the area has cleared the vanguard of knowing nothing about the crime. We're therefore entreating the general public to ignore all the claims that the anti-galamsey taskforce is behind the death.

When the dead bodies of the alleged galamseyers were found, there wasn't any sign of gunshot seen their bodies. In this case, simple logic must tell us that, under no circumstances will an armed military taskforce lay down their weapon to fight someone with their hands.

The decision by the Nana Addo led-government to stop the galamsey must be treated as a national task. This is simply because We need to protect our environment and resources for generations to come just as our forefathers reserved them for us. 

The Atiwa Youth Association(AYA) is, therefore, calling on the Ghana Police Service their best to unearth the hidden truth about the incident.

The DCE for the Atiwa West District, Hon. Kwabena Nkansah Panyin has told the media that there'll be DISEC meeting on Monday to see the way forward.