A self-identified illegal miner, known colloquially as a “galamseyer,” has issued alarming threats to engage in armed robbery if the Ghanaian government proceeds with its plans to dismantle the illegal mining sector.
In a video that has gone viral, the individual claimed he would use the meager profits from his galamsey activities to purchase firearms for his intended criminal endeavors. He articulated his intention to target residences, explicitly stating that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would not be exempt from his plans should the opportunity arise.
“The money gained from galamsey will be used to buy guns to come and rob. If you collapse galamsey, then why wouldn’t I rob? You will be sleeping and I will come to knock; when you come out, I will shoot you,” he declared.
“He should collapse the galamsey and let’s see if we won’t become armed robbers. Akufo-Addo will be robbed if we get the chance, so he should stop that,” he added.
This incident marks the second such video to surface in recent days, following a previous one in which another young man made similar threats, only to later claim he did not mean his words.
In response to the escalating crisis of illegal mining, President Akufo-Addo has ramped up efforts to combat galamsey by deploying military personnel to safeguard the nation’s river bodies, which are under significant threat from these activities. This initiative aims to mitigate the severe environmental damage caused by illegal miners, who frequently contaminate water sources and disrupt ecosystems.
The military’s deployment includes the establishment of security checkpoints and regular patrols in critical areas surrounding rivers and forests impacted by galamsey operations.
