Members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) have raised serious concerns about individuals impersonating national security operatives in the Ashanti Region.
The association claims that these individuals, dressed in military attire and using Land Cruisers, are extorting money from its members.
According to GNASSM, its members have repeatedly encountered these fake operatives, but attempts to verify their operations through official channels have been unsuccessful.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, Michael Adu-Gyamfi, the GNASSM Ashanti District Secretary, stated that information gathered by the association suggests these impersonators are exploiting the government's initiative to clear miners from "red zones," such as forest reserves and river bodies, for their personal gain.
