Security analyst Andrews Asiedu Tetteh has cautioned against any proposal to implement a “shoot-to-kill” policy targeting illegal miners, commonly known as “galamsey.”

He argues that Ghana has not reached a point where such an extreme measure is necessary against individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining.

According to Tetteh, the nation has yet to exhaust all existing protocols for dealing with this issue, which has severely damaged the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.

The analyst insists that the most effective approach remains the arrest and prosecution of suspected illegal miners.

“The ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy suggests that we have exhausted all other approaches, and we are not there yet,” he stated. “If the soldiers and other security personnel deployed are not compromised, we can effectively fight ‘galamsey.'”

Tetteh also commended the government’s decision to establish military bases in areas prone to illegal mining.

However, he stressed that these bases should not be manned exclusively by soldiers.

He recommends that personnel from various security agencies, including the Police, Fire Service, and Immigration, be included.

He further advised that deployed personnel be rotated monthly to prevent them from being compromised.

“The base should not be manned by only soldiers,” he said.

“They should be allowed to spend only a month there, and then a new set brought in to prevent them from being compromised.” Tetteh also emphasised the need to adequately motivate the personnel to deter them from engaging in corrupt practices.