Three foreigners, including an Indian national, have been arrested at Anum in connection with illegal mining activities. The suspects, who also include a Chinese and a Burkinabe, were taken into custody during a crackdown by the Ashanti Region Anti-Galamsey Task Force.

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In the same operation, six excavators used in the mining activities along River Anum in the Bosome Freho District were seized.

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The arrests and equipment seizures are part of a broader effort by the Ashanti Regional Security Council to combat illegal mining. Following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum for miners to halt operations in forests and water bodies, a joint task force was deployed to enforce the directive.

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The team, which includes personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Authority, and the Ghana Immigration Service, carried out the operation with the help of drone surveillance.

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Drones deployed by the Environmental Protection Authority detected illegal mining activities and recorded the movement of excavators from the site after miners became aware of the task force’s presence. Using these coordinates, security operatives tracked the equipment and made arrests. During the raid, several changfan boats were also found floating on the river.

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Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Retired) John Jabari, described the mission as only partially successful, stating that some excavators could not be transported because their control boards had been removed. He estimated that about sixty percent of the task force’s objectives had been met.

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Illegal mining continues to threaten the environment, particularly in the tributaries of River Anum, such as Anuru, Mentu, Adomesu, Bosompomaa, and Nana Mentu. Farmlands in the area have also suffered, with large tracts destroyed. While some landowners willingly sold their properties to miners, others were forcibly displaced.

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One affected farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed frustration over the pollution of water sources. He recalled that workers once relied on the river for cooking, but contamination has forced them to use sachet water instead. When they run out of water on the farm, they have no choice but to stop work for the day.

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The scale of the destruction has prompted authorities to consider extending their operations beyond miners to those who supply them with equipment.

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Captain Jabari indicated that efforts are underway to track and take action against individuals and businesses providing support to illegal miners.

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