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Rocky55 Blog of Saturday, 19 April 2025
Source: Isaac Appiah
26 people, including foreign nationals, have been arrested in a high-profile anti-galamsey operation spearheaded by Ghana Police Service and Forestry Commission personnel. Additionally, eight excavators from illegal mining sites allegedly connected to Akonta Mining, a company allegedly associated with the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, have been seized.
In a message posted on social media, Elikem Kotoko, the deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, revealed the operation, which occurred on the eve of Good Friday.
Kotoko claims that the intelligence-led operation focused on six alleged illicit mining locations in the Western North Region’s Samreboi area.
Six Chinese, two Koreans, and eighteen Ghanaians were arrested during the 12-hour operation, which started at 5 a.m. Five more excavators were allegedly left at their respective locations because of mobility issues, in addition to the eight that were taken.
During the raid, police also seized four motorcycles, a Toyota RAV4, two Toyota Hilux pickups, and a number of mining tools.
The exercise is part of a nationwide effort to crack down on illegal mining, also known as “galamsey,” which has been a major environmental concern due to its devastating impact on water bodies and forest reserves. Kotoko said, “All who were arrested were immediately sent to Accra for onward action.”
Regarding the partnership between the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Kotoko commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and sector Minister Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah for their assistance.
Kotoko stressed, “We MUST preserve the earth, our water bodies, and our forest reserves.” “The fight against illegal miners is an ongoing exercise, and we have no intention of giving up at all.”
The most recent operation rekindles public opposition to the suspected involvement of politically exposed people in illicit mining, a subject that has remained divisive despite repeated government promises to address the threat directly.
Investigations are still underway, according to authorities, and the arrested people will likely be subject to court procedures in the days ahead.
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh
