Dr. Ken Ashigbey, leader of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has demanded swift arrests and thorough investigations after an assault on the IGP’s anti-galamsey taskforce in Bonteso, Ashanti Region.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Ashigbey praised the taskforce for holding their ground and completing their mission despite the violent resistance.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when the team confiscated an excavator from an illegal mining site near Manso Nkwanta. A mob, allegedly led by the local assembly member, attacked the officers with stones to stop them from leaving. Despite warning shots fired to scatter the crowd, the community members continued their aggression.

Dr. Ashigbey condemned the fact that the IGP’s taskforce had to intervene, arguing that local leaders had neglected their responsibilities.

"The assemblyman should already be in custody, the DCE dismissed, and the divisional, district, and regional police commanders suspended. It’s disgraceful that the IGP’s team had to step in when local authorities should have acted sooner," he said.

He also called for the arrest of traditional leaders involved in illegal mining and urged police to track down the owners of seized excavators and tipper trucks using chassis numbers and import records.

Referencing former President John Mahama’s classification of galamsey as a national emergency, Dr. Ashigbey pushed for stronger action, saying, "The President must declare a state of emergency in the area and arrest all those complicit."

He highlighted the severity of the crisis, pointing to recent deaths linked to illegal mining, including government officials. "This is no laughing matter—we’ve lost fathers, children, and husbands. These aren’t just galamseyers; they’re environmental criminals," he stressed.

The attack has reignited calls for stricter enforcement against illegal mining, which continues to devastate Ghana’s environment, water resources, and communities.