Policeman drowns during anti-galamsey operation

Constable John Kwabena Dogbe, a policeman has died by drowning in River Offin at the Central Region during an anti galamsey operation at Assin Asaman.

Shirley Asiedu Addo ,  a news correspondent for Graphic Online at the Central Region reports that the policeman, drowned on Wednesday morning. 

The body of Constable John Kwabena Dogbe  was recovered from the river after an extensive four-hour search. The incident reportedly took place during a swift operation undertaken by the Central North Regional Police Command within the frame work of the ongoing efforts to destroy illegal mining activities in the region.

The illegal mining activities in the region locally known as “Galamsey” remain to pose threat to the environment, wiping out vast stretches of land and polluting water bodies in the Central Region and other areas.

An operation was launched by the Central North Regional Police Command as part of efforts to crack down on the continuous mounting problem of galamsey in the region, especially along the Offin River.

According to a source who spoke to Graphic Online, when they saw the police , the suspected illegal miners escaped in disarray, running to the other part of the river bank at Assin Asaman. 

The source declared that in an attempt to pull out and destroy the equipment that was being utilized in the illegal mining activities, along with a changfang and water pumping machines, Constable John Kwabena Dogbe accidentally slipped beneath the surface and drowned.