Eastern region security taskforce arrests 8 in fresh crackdown on illegal mining
The operation, conducted on Friday, involved a joint team of police officers from the Eastern Regional Command and military personnel from the Southern Command.
A special taskforce formed by the Eastern Regional Security Council has arrested eight individuals for engaging in illegal mining activities, locally known as "galamsey," during a coordinated operation across Denkyembuor, Atiwa West, Fanteakwa, and Ayensuano districts.
The operation, conducted on Friday, involved a joint team of police officers from the Eastern Regional Command and military personnel from the Southern Command. In the course of the exercise, numerous mining tools and equipment were seized, including 24 excavator batteries, 16 water pumping machines, a chainsaw, three monitors, five control boards, and various firearms — among them two pump-action rifles and three single-barrelled guns. Authorities also retrieved a sum of GH₵3,000 in cash.
Speaking to the press, the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, praised the efforts of the security personnel and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining under the leadership of President John Mahama.
The minister stressed that the government's priority is to safeguard the environment and ensure clean water availability for communities, adding that illegal mining has severely affected the Ghana Water Company Limited’s ability to deliver potable water.
She gave a firm assurance that none of the impounded machinery would be returned to the suspects and emphasized that all offenders would face legal action.
Unlike previous administrations that adopted a policy of burning excavators, Hon. Awatey stated that the current government will consider repurposing the machines for regional development if such directives are issued.
