The Ghana Police Service has arrested 49 suspects across multiple regions as part of a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations.
Targeted Regions in Galamsey Sweep
The arrests were made in key illegal mining hotspots, including:
- Western Region:
At Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa, 19 suspects were arrested. The Western Central Regional Police Command also disabled over 135 changfan machines and seized 23 water pumping machines, four excavator batteries, and a motorbike. - Ashanti Region:
In Akrokerri, nine suspects were picked up by the Ashanti South Regional Police Command for engaging in illegal mining activities. - Eastern Region:
At the Awin River in Pankese and Akyem Akwadum, 11 individuals were arrested. Police retrieved a variety of mining equipment including an excavator monitor, two excavator pedals, seven excavator control boards, and a gold-detecting device. - Central Region:
Operations at Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso led to the arrest of 10 suspects by the Central North Regional Police Command. Four excavators, eight pumping machines, and one cylinder machine were recovered.
Ongoing Investigations and National Commitment
All suspects are currently in custody and assisting police with investigations. In a statement issued on Sunday, June 1, the Ghana Police Service reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to halting illegal mining and protecting the environment.
This operation forms part of a broader government agenda to curb the impact of galamsey on water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves across the country.
The Fight Against Galamsey
Galamsey, a local term derived from “gather them and sell,” refers to unregulated and illegal small-scale gold mining. The practice has grown into a serious environmental menace in Ghana, often resulting in massive destruction of ecosystems and contamination of rivers.
The Ghanaian government and security agencies have launched several initiatives in the past—including Operation Vanguard and Operation Halt—to suppress galamsey operations. Despite these efforts, illegal mining persists, prompting further collaboration between communities, local authorities, and national security forces.
This latest crackdown signals a strengthened resolve by law enforcement agencies to bring offenders to book and restore environmental integrity.
Read Also: Police Arrest 13, Disable Over 120 Changfang Machines in Anti-Galamsey Operation at Wassa Gyapa