Eastern Region: 164 illegal miners arrested
The swoop, conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces on Thursday, September 15, 2022 forms part of government’s rejuvenated and renewed fight against illegal Mining
The anti-galamsey taskforce, Operation Halt II, has arrested 164 suspected illegal miners in Anyinam and Mampong in the Eastern Region.
The suspects include 159 males and five females.
They were made up of nationals from Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Cote d’ivoire.
The swoop, conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces on Thursday (15 September) forms part of the government’s rejuvenated and renewed fight against illegal mining.
Speaking to the media after the suspects were brought to Accra for processing and prosecution, the deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mining, George Mireku Duker commended the taskforce for acting swiftly on the Ministry’s directive to clampdown on activities of illegal miners in the country.
Duker said the suspects will be handed over to the police and relevant authorities for processing and prosecution.
“We asked the security agencies to conduct a massive operation to get these foreign nationals who have invaded our environment. These are people from neighbouring countries who have invaded mining concessions near river bodies in this country,” he said.
“I want to commend the military for the effort they have shown to arrest 164 illegal miners. They also have people who are providing other services.
“One of them confessed that she is happy they have been arrested as she was trafficked to Ghana. We will hand them over to the appropriate authorities for them to take the necessary actions,” he concluded.
He said government is not going to relent on its promise to end illegal mining.
Duker admonished recalcitrant individuals and groups in the illegal mining business to stop their harmful activities, promising them that when apprehended, the law will take its full course.
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