Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno has initiated a sweeping reshuffle of police commanders stationed in illegal mining (galamsey) hotspots across the country.
The personnel changes, which affect Divisional and District Commanders in the Eastern South, Western, and Western North regions, form the first phase of what the IGP describes as a strategic overhaul to inject new energy, improve oversight, and promote accountability in the Ghana Police Service’s role in combating environmental crime.
“This reshuffle is part of a broader effort to ensure more effective policing in areas plagued by illegal mining,” a police statement said, indicating that additional changes are expected in the coming weeks as part of the IGP’s broader transformation agenda.
The leadership shake-up comes on the heels of a major operational breakthrough, following a four-day intelligence-led operation in the Samreboi enclave in the Western Region. The operation, which ran from April 17 to 20, targeted illegal mining activities along the Tano River and in parts of the Aboi, Subri, and Nimiri Forest Reserves.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 47 suspects, including 8 Chinese nationals and 4 women, all of whom are currently in custody.
Security teams recovered an arsenal of illegal mining equipment and vehicles, including:
- 17 excavators
- 1 bulldozer
- 4 motorbikes
- 2 Toyota Hilux pickups
- 1 RAV4 vehicle
- 4 pump-action shotguns
- 1 single-barrel gun
- 54 live cartridges
- 8 pumping machines
The success of the operation marks a turning point in law enforcement’s renewed efforts to stem the tide of environmental degradation and resource exploitation in Ghana’s mining regions.
Analysts say the reshuffle signals the IGP’s zero-tolerance stance on complicity and complacency among police personnel, particularly in areas where officers have been previously accused of turning a blind eye—or even enabling—illegal mining activities.
The Ghana Police Service has vowed to continue its multi-agency collaboration with other state bodies, including the Forestry Commission and Minerals Commission, to dismantle illegal mining networks and bring perpetrators to justice.
“This is not just a policing exercise—it’s an institutional reset,” one senior security source noted.
The reshuffle and arrests come as the government ramps up its nationwide crackdown on galamsey, a move welcomed by environmental advocates and local communities long affected by polluted rivers and deforested lands.
