Private legal practitioner Victoria Bright has warned that the dangerous galamsey mindset must be stopped, after a Jacobu District patrol team was attacked by civilians at Bepotenten Sukuum in the Amansie Central District, Ashanti Region.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Ms. Bright said she was shocked after watching videos of the attack, questioning how the nation had reached a point where civilians felt they could confront police officers openly.

“I just couldn’t believe it when I was watching the video. Have we gotten to this stage in this country? People feel they can do whatever they want, especially in connection with this galamsey issue. It is becoming a part of our society,” she said.

According to a police report, the incident occurred during a routine patrol by officers in the Jacobu District. The officers had recovered a pump-action gun from a 15-year-old boy and instructed him to inform the owner of the firearm to report to the police station with the necessary documentation.

While returning from the patrol, the team was confronted by about 100 people who had blocked the road at Bepotenten Sukuum. Some members of the crowd were allegedly armed with cutlasses and firearms, and they reportedly assaulted the officers and forcibly seized a service rifle.

In the ensuing clash, police shot one individual who had taken the weapon, while another person sustained injuries. The service rifle was later recovered by the officers.

Ms. Bright expressed frustration over the growing boldness of illegal miners.

“I am sick and tired of all these galamseyers. It is too much. Enough is enough. They have to be stopped once and for all,” she said.

She questioned why civilians would attempt to overpower officers who were performing their lawful duties.

“Why would 100 people try to overpower the police? The fact that there is no fear and no respect for the law is what concerns me. They are just running around doing whatever they want, actually believing they could get away with it. It is that mindset that I am very concerned about,” she said.

Ms. Bright warned that such actions undermine national development and threaten social order.

“It sets us back as a nation. These galamsey people have gone too far. They are destroying everything, including the very moral fabric of our society,” she added.

She also condemned the attack on the officers, comparing it to previous confrontations involving security personnel.

“Why would people just come out and attack the police, just like we had with the military last year? This is taking a trajectory that is very dangerous,” she said.

Calling for decisive action, Ms. Bright urged the police to remain firm.

“It has to be stopped, and the police must continue to act decisively and deal with these people. They have to understand that this is not acceptable,” she stressed.

Defending the officers, she emphasised that they were simply doing their job.

“They were just patrolling the area, and they are entitled to do so. They are the police of Ghana. So what business does a civilian have charging at them and trying to wrestle with them?” she asked.

Ms. Bright concluded by warning about the broader impact of illegal mining on the country.

“This galamsey is destroying everything from our children’s future, to education, to our health, to our water. It is like a scorched-earth approach to life, driven by greed. Whatever we have been doing is not enough. We need to up our game,” she said.

Meanwhile in a statement, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has strongly condemned the attack on its officers and cautioned the public against acts of violence towards law enforcement personnel.