The Special Police Anti-galamsey Taskforce from the National Police Headquarters has apprehended 17 suspects in connection with illegal mining activities (galamsey) at Samreboi in the Western Region.

On May 25, the police nabbed the suspects, comprising seven Chinese nationals and 10 Ghanaians. The suspects were transported to Accra to assist with further investigations.

Meanwhile, the anti-galamsey task force is intensifying operations within the Aowin Tano and Tano Anwia areas near Enchi, focusing on identifying additional persons of interest and protecting the affected forest reserves.

The Ghana Police Service has announced that it remains resolute in its support for national efforts to combat illegal mining.

There have been earlier anti-galamsey operations at Samreboi. About a month ago, the Police arrested 58 suspects comprising 50 Ghanaians and 8 Chinese, and retrieved 85 excavators and 3 bulldozers to halt galamsey operations at Samreboi, along the Tano River, Wassa Dunkwa, Tigarikrom and surrounding communities in the Western Region.

Similar anti-galamsey operations were carried out by various Regional Police Commands across the regions as follows:

The Western Regional Police Command arrested 19 suspects and retrieved 3 excavators and 3 pump-action guns, among other exhibits.

The Upper West Regional Police Command arrested 7 Ghanaian suspects and retrieved 11 changfangs and 3 motorbikes, among other exhibits.

The Eastern South Regional Police Command Region arrested 24 suspects, including one Burkinabe, and retrieved 5 excavators, 3 single-barrel guns, and 1 pump-action gun, among other exhibits.

The Western Central Regional Police Command arrested 85 suspects, comprising 76 Ghanaians and 9 Chinese, and also retrieved 11 excavators and other exhibits.

The Eastern North Regional Police Command also arrested 15 suspects, including one Chinese, and retrieved 4 excavator control boards, 9 monitors, and one pistol, among other exhibits.

Meanwhile, the prosecution of suspected illegal miners is being pursued by the police.

On May 20, the Koforidua Circuit Court B granted 14 suspected illegal miners bail each in the sum of GHC350,000 with two sureties, with one to be justified with movable property.

The suspects were arrested on May 15 for illegally mining at Akyem Muoso in the Eastern Region by the Eastern South Regional Police Command.

At the time of the arrest, police retrieved a pump-action gun from one of the suspects, Zuberu Nuhoho, who failed to produce documentation for the weapon.

Two excavator control boards were also retrieved from the mining site. The accused persons were arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court B on May 16.