JAGA Watch Committee reinforced with six new members to fight galamsey in Jema

The Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocacy (JAGA) Watch Committee has expanded its efforts to combat illegal mining and other forms of crime in the Jema community by welcoming six new members to its ranks. This boost in manpower brings the total number of volunteers to 20, including three women. Chief Superintendent Augustine Kweku Mensah, the Enchi District Commander of Police, inaugurated the new members on September 3, 2026, at the Jema Community Centre.

Chief Superintendent Mensah praised the people of Jema, particularly those involved in JAGA, for their dedication to safeguarding the community's land and water bodies from illegal mining. He highlighted the success Jema has achieved in protecting its pristine rivers, which continue to provide fresh water and support aquatic life like crabs, lobsters, and fish.

The Chief Superintendant expressed concern over the human cost of illegal mining, particularly the high risk of drowning in abandoned mining pits. He reminded the community that reports of such incidents had been frequent this year, urging everyone to remain vigilant in protecting their natural resources.

The JAGA Watch Committee will operate as an auxiliary support structure to the Police, collaborating closely with police personnel stationed in Jema. Their responsibilities will include monitoring illegal mining activities and addressing other threats to community safety and order, such as the use of hard drugs, robbery, unlawful motorbike riding, and general indiscipline.

Residents are cautioned against assaulting or interfering with the Watch Committee members, as such actions will be treated seriously by the Police. The Chief Superintendent also emphasized that criminal offenses do not have expiry dates, threatening potential offenders against engaging in further acts of arson, particularly following the re-erection of the JAGA billboard that was recently burned.

The reinforcement of the JAGA Watch Committee showcases the growing community-led resistance to illegal mining in Ghana's mining districts, where galamsey has caused severe environmental damage. Jema's success in protecting its water bodies stands out in the Aowin area, where many neighboring communities have suffered extensively. The Police's integration of the committee as an auxiliary structure reflects the broader reliance on community surveillance in the fight against illegal mining and associated crime.