BY Issah Olegor
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, alongside top military officials, paid a condolence visit on Friday to the family of Private Sarfo Agyapong, a National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) operative who tragically lost his life in a line of duty in Obuasi for anti-galamsey operations.
The fatal accident occurred late Wednesday as the task force was returning from a mission at a mining concession in Anyankyerim, which had recently been overrun by illegal miners.
Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle carrying the officers veered off the road, resulting in a crash that claimed Private Agyapong’s life.
Several of his colleagues sustained critical injuries and were rushed to the Obuasi Government Hospital before being transferred to the Anglogold Ashanti Hospital for further medical care.
During the visit at the family home in Afuaman, Greater Accra Region, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and President John Dramani Mahama.
He assured the family that the government would provide all necessary support in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“I bring you greetings from President John Dramani Mahama. Our brother, Private Agyapong, died in the line of duty to save Ghana. He was fighting so that our forests and waters would be preserved. We will make all necessary arrangements to support the family.”
“Please be consoled and know that your son is a hero for Ghana,” Minister Buah said.
Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, Chief of the Army Staff, also reassured the bereaved family that the Ghana Armed Forces would accord Private Agyapong full military honours in line with established military traditions.
“I wish to assure the family that the entire Ghana Armed Forces will provide all necessary courtesies in preparation for his burial, as military ethics demand,” he said.
Private Agyapong’s death has once again highlighted the dangers faced by personnel engaged in the ongoing battle against illegal mining activities.
The Anyankyerim concession, where the NAIMOS team was operating, has been a flashpoint in recent months, with illegal miners allegedly receiving support from politically influential individuals.
The site has become a symbol of the intersection of illegal mining and political influence, complicating efforts by authorities to enforce the law.
