56 Arrested for involvement in galamsey

Fifty-six individuals were last Thursday arrested and handed over to the Western Regional Police Command for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Kadadwen and its environs in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality. 

The exercise forms part of a targeted operation being carried out by the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to combat illegal mining activities in the region, and was jointly carried out by personnel of the security services led by Brigadier -General Musah Whajah(rtd), the Liaison Officer of National Security.

Those arrested were made up of 47 males and nine females.

In addition to the arrests, about 25 changfang machines, used for washing and trapping gold, were seized in the process and destroyed by the security forces.

The operation, according to Brigadier-General, Whajah (retd), marked  a significant step towards addressing the issue of illegal mining in the Western Region.

GREL

He said the operation  targeted illegal miners in specific areas, including the farmlands of Ghana Rubber Estate  Company Ltd (GREL), Norpalm oil plantation, Kadadwen and parts of the Mpohor District.

Additionally, he said , the security personnel  successfully burnt 25 changfang machines and seized various equipment, including three motorbikes, nine pumping machines, three excavators and three pay-loaders from the Ahanta West Municipality and Mpohor District.

He expressed concern about the devastating impact of illegal mining activities and vowed to take action, on the orders of the minister, against its spread in the region.

"We made some arrests during today's operation.

This time, we're taking a different approach.

The suspects will be screened by the police, and those found culpable will be put before  court",he stated.

In a separate operation, a joint Rapid Response Team from the Tarkwa and Takoradi Forest District of the Forestry Commission arrested eight illegal miners and seized seven motorcycles and three tricycles from the Subri Forest Reserve last Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

RM

Meanwhile the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson,has given the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council would leave no stone unturned in dealing decisively with perpetrators of these land degradation and pollution of water bodies in the region.

He called on Ghanaians to help fight the menace of illegal mining in the country because of its devastating effect on the environment.