The Enchi District office of the Forestry Commission has taken into custody 13 persons involved in unlawful mining activities after they unlawfully entered the Boi Tano and Jema Asemkrom forest reserves in the Western North Region.

The arrests followed a late-night operation led by the Western North Regional Forest Services Division, during which mining equipment and temporary shelters set up by the suspects within the reserves were destroyed.

The Boi Tano and Jema Asemkrom forest reserves are among several protected areas that have increasingly been targeted by illegal mining operators.

The arrested individuals have been transferred to the Enchi Police Command to face legal action.

The Police Service on July 10 reported the arrest of some seven persons for illegal mining activities at Abora in Upper Denkyira West.

The Central Regional Police Command made the arrest following an intelligence-led operation conducted at the targeted location where the suspects were actively engaging in illegal mining activities.

The suspects are identified as; Latif Abdul Gyimah (55), Mohammed Bello (44), George Azu (52), Kingsley Owusu (23), Sampson Afadzi (45), Simon Atakpo (21), Andrews Otto (26).

One single-barrel shotgun, two pump-action shotguns (Mossberg 500A12GA) with serial numbers T069032 and T075882, 26 live cartridges, two excavators, two Hyundai excavator monitors, three unregistered motorbikes, one unregistered Haojin tricycle, and one (1) newly installed water pump machine, were retrieved.

According to the police, efforts are underway to retrieve additional excavators from the site.

All suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations, while exhibits have been retained in secure police custody.

In June, two coordinated operations conducted at Nikanika and Adeade in the Central Region led to the arrest of 3 suspects and the seizure of several pieces of mining equipment.

The operations were executed by the Ghana Police Service, through its Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force.

The task force proceeded to a mining site at Nikanika. Although no operators were found at the scene, the team retrieved one (1) single-barrel shotgun loaded with a cartridge and three (3) water pumping machines.

In a related development, the task force extended its operation to Adeade, where three suspects; Prosper Quansah, Chrispin Nartey, and Owusu Gambra, were arrested with an excavator on a lowbed trailer.

One SANY excavator, four unregistered Haojin motorbikes, and one lowbed vehicle with registration number GN 2136-24 were seized from the scene.

The suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations, while all exhibits have been secured in police custody.

The Police are ensuring the prosecution of individuals arrested for illegal mining activities.

The Dormaa Traditional Council’s Anti-Galamsey Taskforce has successfully apprehended 15 individuals, including two girls, suspected of engaging in illegal mining in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region.

This operation, aimed at curbing the illegal mining trend, was initiated by Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs.

According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the arrests took place in the Akontanim community, where illegal mining activities have been increasingly reported.

Assembly Member Alhaji Inuse Luti confirmed the arrests and stated that the suspects are now in police custody. Ongoing investigations will determine their forthcoming court proceedings.

“In fact, anybody who would be caught engaging in illegal mining would not be spared and would be made to face the full rigours of the law,” he warned.

Alhaji Luti emphasized that the District Assembly, traditional authorities, and various stakeholders are united in their commitment to combat illegal mining in the region, asserting, “we will continue to fight until the menace is eliminated”.

He dismissed rumors suggesting that some chiefs, unit committee members, and others were involved in illegal mining activities, praising Osagyefo Oseadeyo Badu II for his significant dedication to tackling this issue.

Luti also acknowledged the contributions of Kofi Agyemang, the Dormaa East District Chief Executive, and Nana Owusu Amponsah, the Chief of Kyeremasu, for their pivotal roles in curbing illegal mining in the area.

He underscored that the fight against illegal mining is a collective responsibility and urged the community to share any information about suspected illegal miners with the taskforce.

Three illegal miners locally known as galamseyers have been confirmed dead after they were trapped at Prestea concession in the Western Region. They allegedly snuck into a dangerous, closed-off part of the mine, and became trapped there.

This information was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, November 19, by Heath Goldfields Ltd, legal owners of the Prestea concession.

“Every loss of life, regardless of circumstance, is painful, and we stand with the affected families in grief and sympathy,” the company said.

However, some miners have alleged that the deceased individuals were trapped by thick smoke after they accessed abandoned underground tunnels through restricted passages.

Illegal mining activities continue to pose a major challenge to the country. Several Chinese nationals have been involved in such illegal operations, leading to multiple arrests.

On Monday, November, 19 the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force seized illegal mining equipment in a major swoop in Obuasi in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.

Equipment seized during the operation conducted on Monday, November 17, included motorbikes, vehicles, water pumps, and other tools used for illegal mining activities. Makeshift shelters and assorted equipment at the site were also destroyed.The task force also stormed a concession at Anyankyireml, a site that had been taken over by groups of illegal miners. Although the concession is legally owned by Asante Gold Corporation, it has been occupied by these illegal miners, forcing the rightful owners to flee the site.

However, the intervention of the NAIMOS team drove out the miners and securing the land for its rightful owners. Illegal mining continues to pose a major challenge to the country, with several foreign nationals implicated and multiple arrests made. In June, NAIMOS warned criminal groups to vacate galamsey areas.