Nine arrested over illegal mining at national security protected site

Nine individuals have been apprehended during a police operation at Akatakyieso in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region, following reports of illegal mining activities at a site reportedly under the protection of national security personnel.

The raid was triggered by actionable intelligence pointing to unauthorized and hazardous mining in the area. According to the Ashanti South Deputy Regional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, warning shots were fired during the operation to disperse miners operating at the site.

“We are still investigating the identities of those involved. At this stage, we cannot confirm if they are national security operatives,” said Chief Superintendent Arthur. He emphasized that early findings suggest some form of mining was taking place on a site supposedly secured by national security.

Unlike typical small-scale alluvial mining, operations at the site involved hard rock mining, where deep holes are manually dug to extract gold-bearing rock for processing. Officials say the mining was carried out with basic tools, raising safety and legality concerns.

Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison, explained the site was taken over due to the nature of the operations, lack of proper licenses, and a surge in criminal activity, including drug abuse.

“This mine raised red flags for multiple reasons—unsafe mining practices, absence of full regulatory compliance, and the criminal environment around it,” he noted.

An investigative team has been dispatched to assess the legitimacy of the mining activities and the alleged involvement of national security. Conflicting accounts have since emerged.

Michael Owusu, a stakeholder and owner of one of the contested sites, insists that all necessary licenses from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minerals Commission, and other regulators are in place. He challenged authorities to present proof if the documents are considered forged.

Meanwhile, sources close to an 18-member committee on mining, formed by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, confirm that the Akatekyieso Cooperative Community Mining possesses valid documentation. However, at a second nearby site, all licenses are intact except for the operational permit.

The investigative body continues to probe the authenticity of the site’s documentation and the operational methods being employed, particularly at the cooperative mining location, which has resumed operations amid scrutiny.