Operation Vanguard killings and burnings justified - Kwame Jantauh

The anti-illegal mining task force, Operation Vanguard was right in killing one person at Wawase community in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region during a shootout, private legal practitioner, Kwame Jantuah has stated

“The task force will not stand there for these illegal miners to throw stones, bottles and sometimes fire guns at them”, he observed on weekly news analysis program New file.

“It is sad that one person is dead but it is to be expected. I do not foresee it stopping…..it will happen again and more people will die”, Lawyer Kwame Jantuah predicted.

“There are some people who feel that there are no jobs in their localities and communities and galamsey is all that they know and they will still go and do it”, he explained.

“The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has even put out his presidency on the line saying even if it will take him to lose the next elections he will not stop galamsey fight “, the leading member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) pointed out.

“We are determined to stop and make sure that the water bodies are restored…and ensure this menace is scrapped”, he vowed.

One person was shot dead by the police/military task force in returning fire to defend themselves when some illegal miners in the area allegedly fired at the patrol team to resist arrest.

Sections of the public have condemned the inhumane treatment members of the security agencies are meting out to these illegal miners including the burning of their excavators.

However, Lawyer Kwame Jantuah on a panel discussion on the show stated all the moves are right since it will discourage the people to desist from illegal mining.