IGP Yohuno and Lands Minister Buah Outline Major Breakthroughs in National Security and Galamsey Crackdown

In a series of high-profile updates on Ghana’s internal security, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Yohuno, and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, have detailed significant progress in combating organized crime and illegal mining. During a press briefing in Accra, IGP Yohuno announced seven major operational successes made possible through enhanced intelligence and logistical support from President John Mahama’s administration. These achievements range from dismantling weapon-trading syndicates and foiling bank robberies to the high-profile extradition of 32-year-old Abraham Awundok from the UAE. Awundok is the primary suspect in the April 2026 murder of Dr. Jesse Amuah and his wife, Elizabeth Esi Amuah, a case that had drawn national concern.

The Ghana Police Service has also successfully disrupted violent criminal networks across the country. In Labone, officers foiled a coordinated robbery attempt on local banks, while operations in Wassa Akropong and the northern sectors of Buipe, Tamale, and Mion led to the arrest of multiple robbery gangs and the recovery of illegal firearms, including AK-47 rifles. In a separate incident at Ashaley Botwe, police arrested two lorry station masters, Abubakari Ateni and Eric Tetteh, for allegedly plotting the murder of a woman over a debt of GH₵91,810. Highlighting regional bravery, the Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, recently promoted and honored four officers—Sergeants Moti Kwame Divine and Salifu Ishmael, and Corporals Ernest Amiyaw and John Bekara Vitus—for dismantling a syndicate terrorizing the Wa Municipality.

Complementing these law enforcement successes, Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has reaffirmed the government’s uncompromising stance against illegal mining, or galamsey. During an inspection of the Ankobra River, the Minister reported the removal of nearly 3,000 illegal 'changfan' mining machines and over 237 arrests, including several foreign nationals. Minister Buah emphasized his personal commitment to integrity, stating he would rather risk his life than be corrupted by the lucrative illegal trade. He credited the security personnel for their persistence in restoring the nation's water bodies and signaled a shift toward more intelligence-led operations to dismantle the financial and logistical networks of mining kingpins.

National security analysts, including Nana Attobrah Quaicoe, suggest that while these individual successes are commendable, the long-term solution lies in a permanent restructuring of the nation’s intelligence architecture. As galamsey and armed robbery evolve into sophisticated forms of organized crime, experts argue that the focus must remain on preventative measures rather than reactive damage control. Moving forward, the government intends to deepen community engagement and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that these recent operational gains translate into lasting stability and environmental restoration for all Ghanaians.