Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei, Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), has expressed grave concern following the disappearance of 33 excavators that were in police custody after an anti-galamsey operation.

According to her, 40 excavators were handed over to the police for safekeeping because there were no lowbed vehicles available to transport the equipment from the galamsey sites.

However, speaking in an interview on Adom FM, Dr Bissiw-Kotei, who also serves as the National Women’s Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), disclosed that only seven excavators remained when her team returned the following morning.

“We handed over 40 excavators to the police, but when we returned the next morning, only seven were left. I spoke with the Police Commander about the incident because I was unhappy with it. Right now, the seven we managed to recover are being held,” she said.

She added that the experience informed a change in strategy during her next operation at Atetem.

“So, during my next operation at Atetem, I went with engineers, as well as uniformed and plainclothes police and military officers. I also wore body armor because the last time we were ambushed and even came under fire. The engineers I brought along ensured that the excavators, which had trackers installed to prevent us from moving them, were successfully removed from the galamsey site.”

Since assuming her role, Dr Bisiw-Kotei has taken a firm stance in defense of mining communities.

The Minerals Development Fund has grown increasingly concerned about illegal mining activities, prompting threats from those benefiting from the galamsey operations.