In a revelation that casts a harsh spotlight on Ghana's ongoing battle against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor affiliated with Multimedia recently exposed unsettling truths about the government's insufficient approach to tackling this issue.
Through his meticulous research, which tragically resulted in his abduction and assault alongside his team, Erastus has revealed the ineffectiveness and systemic flaws within the very task forces assigned to curb galamsey operations.
Speaking candidly on Newsfile on Joy Prime monitored by MyNewsGH.com, Erastus explained that the government's Special Task Force, established to address illegal mining, often serves more as a public relations strategy than a genuine enforcement body. "The Task Force deployed to these sites is essentially performing for appearances, without any real decision-making power," he stated.
According to Erastus, these units do not operate autonomously; rather, they rely heavily on instructions from higher-ups, whose directives largely dictate their schedules, areas of focus, and response to illegal mining activities.