Government says twenty persons arrested at Akyem Akenteng, in the West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region, for engaging in illegal small-scale mining are not national security operatives.
During preliminary investigations by the National Intelligence Bureau, the suspects named a contract staff of the National Security Ministry as the one who engaged them for the said activity.
Earlier reports suggested the suspects claimed they were officials of national security. Both the arrested persons and the said contractor have all been remanded and are due to be arraigned before court.
A statement signed by the Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah assured the public that government remains fully committed to the fight against illegal mining.
The statement warned people against perpetrating crime under the guise of National Security as persons found culpable will be made to face the full rigours of the law.
