The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat has arrested 27 people, including two Chinese nationals and 25 Ghanaians, for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities in the Western and Western North Regions.
The arrests formed part of a major coordinated operation conducted across six mining-endemic regions, targeting illegal mining activities in forest reserves, reclaimed mining sites and riverine areas.
The operation covered areas around Enchi, reclaimed sites within the Desire Forest Reserve, the Birim River and the Tepa-Goaso District.
The taskforce also focused its operations along the Ankobra, Bia, Torya, Tano and Butre rivers, where illegal mining activities have raised concerns about environmental degradation and the pollution of water bodies.
During the operation, the team seized an excavator, a Toyota Land Cruiser, an excavator monitor, a generator, three motorbikes, nine water pumps and a single-barrel 12-gauge short gun.
The taskforce also destroyed equipment and makeshift structures allegedly being used to facilitate illegal mining, including 14 water pumps, seven chanfang machines, four generators and five makeshift structures.
