Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno has called on officers of the Ghana Police Service to remain resolute, professional and principled in the fight against crime, including illegal mining activities known locally as galamsey, despite growing operational risks.
The IGP made the call on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Police Headquarters in Accra during a ceremony to promote officers from the Special Investigative Team that handled election-related violence cases from the 2020 and 2024 polls, as well as members of the IGP’s Anti-Galamsey Task Force.
Sacrifice and Resolve
Mr Yohuno acknowledged the dangers faced by officers in the line of duty, noting that about 20 police personnel lost their lives in 2025 during various operations. He stressed that such sacrifices must strengthen, rather than weaken, the Service’s resolve to enforce the law.
“We want all our more than 49,000 officers in the field to understand that discipline, hard work and integrity matter,” he said.
“Do not work for recognition. Do your duty from the heart, and in time, your efforts will be rewarded.”
He urged officers to demonstrate courage, loyalty and professionalism, particularly in high-risk operations targeting organised crime and environmental degradation.
Anti-Galamsey Operations
Speaking on behalf of officers promoted from the Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force, Superintendent of Police Bawah Abdul Jalil reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to dismantling illegal mining networks.
He disclosed that the task force was deployed to the Ashanti Region with 105 officers, where they faced violent resistance during operations, including attacks and gunfire while seizing excavators.
“We encountered serious confrontations, especially during the seizure of equipment,” he said.
“Shots were fired, but the situation was brought under control. The results of our work are visible for all Ghanaians to assess.”
Election Violence Investigations
Also addressing the gathering, Chief Superintendent of Police John Kwaku Lodonu, representing the Special Investigative Team on election violence, said the unit had already secured some prosecutions and remained committed to pursuing all outstanding cases.
He noted that investigations into election-related offences would continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice, in line with the law.
Broader Message
The promotion ceremony served both as recognition for officers’ dedication and as a broader signal from police leadership that the Service intends to intensify enforcement against crime, corruption and illegal mining, while maintaining public trust and institutional integrity.
Source: Africa Publicity
