Galamsey fight: Soldiers will die more if there’s a shoot to kill order – Ex ‘galamaseyer’

A former illegal miner, popularly known as ‘Strongman’ has said should a shoot to kill order be issued to the anti-illegal mining (galamsey) Military Taskforce, Operation Halt, the soldiers will rather record more casualties.

Some statesmen including immediate-past Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E George Ayisi Boateng have advocated for anyone found on an illegal mining (galamsey) site to be shot dead by the Military Taskforce.

According to him, the war being waged by the government against illegal mining must be fought just as happens on the battlefield where casualties are recorded.

“When the Taskforce meets anyone engaging in galamsey, even if it’s me, the person should be shot to death. All equipment including excavators must be destroyed.

“Anyone who draws a sword dies by the sword. We are waging a battle against galamsey and from what I know there’s no format when one is on the battlefield. Any means by which the battle against galamsey will be won must be applied because Ghanaians are very stubborn…as for this fight against galamsey there should be no mercy for anyone found engaging in the illegal act. Even if it’s an insect that is found at a galamsey site it must be shot dead. Whoever is hired to work at a galamsey site must turn down the offer because he or she may pay dearly with his or her life,” the former Diplomate said in an interview with Okay FM monitored by Kasapafmonline.com.

But in an interview on ‘Ghana Kasa’ show on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV Tuesday, June 22, 2021, Strongman while sharing his experience in illegal mining told host Bonohene Baffuor Awuah that such a move will be wrong and costly to the nation as most of the illegal miners are well-armed and may even subdue the military taskforce.