Galamsey fight: Vormawor calls for memorial honor for deceased officer

Social activist and Democracy Hub convenor, Oliver Barker Vormawor, has called for permanent recognition of General Constable John Kwabena Dogbe, the police officer who recently drowned during an anti-illegal mining operation, describing him as a national hero deserving of monumental tribute.

“Constable John Kwabena Dogbe deserves a statue and a Roundabout. RIP hero!” Vormawor declared in a poignant tribute following the officer’s tragic death during a galamsey crackdown in the River Offin at Assin Asaman on April 2.

The 32-year-old officer was part of a Central North Regional Police Command operation targeting illegal miners when the incident occurred. As police moved to confiscate and destroy mining equipment including changfang machines and water pumps, suspected miners fled across the river. During the pursuit, Constable Dogbe slipped and drowned.

After a four-hour search, divers recovered his body, sending shockwaves through the law enforcement community and reigniting debates about the dangers frontline officers face in the fight against the galamsey.

The Ghana Police Service has announced plans for a full honors funeral while investigations continue into operational safety protocols during such missions. Constable Dogbe leaves behind a wife and two children.