IGP shakes up police leadership in Galamsey hotspots to bolster crackdown

In a decisive move to intensify the fight against illegal mining, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has initiated a sweeping reshuffle of police leadership in areas most affected by galamsey. A total of 34 police commanders across multiple regions have been reassigned, marking what police sources describe as the beginning of a broader restructuring campaign.

This shake-up, aimed at reinvigorating law enforcement efforts in illegal mining zones, targets strategic police divisions in the Western, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions. Among the key areas affected are Takoradi, Asankragwa, Tarkwa, Nkawie, Bekwai, Anyinam, and Nsawam — all locations identified as critical to the galamsey crisis.

Confirmed movements include Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jonathan A. Lamptey moving from Gambaga to lead the Takoradi Command, and ACP Thomas Osei Ababio heading to Yendi from Asankragwa. Others affected in the reshuffle include ACP Raymond Kofi Erzuah (Tarkwa to Kpando), ACP Samuel Yeboah (Kpando to Essiama), and C/Supt Ebenezer Benson (Nsawam to Dawurampong).

The reassignments also see officers like C/Supt Vitus Napen taking over Asankragwa, and C/Supt Mahmud Yussif moving from the Northern Regional MTTD to Tarkwa. In a strategic regional rotation, several officers have been transferred to and from the Upper East, Volta, Central, and Upper West Regions, including roles in logistics and administrative support.

These high-level movements reflect the IGP’s commitment to reenergizing the Police Service’s operational efficiency and restoring public trust in law enforcement’s role in combating environmental crime. Further changes are anticipated as the Ghana Police Service continues its efforts to disrupt illegal mining networks and enforce environmental protection laws across the country.