Two Chinese nationals have been arrested by the Wassa East District Security Council and the Ghana Police Service in the Western Region for illegal small scale mining.
The operation executed along the Pra River is in fulfilment of the President’s directive to end the menace in water bodies. According to reports, the Chinese illegal miners had stationed their machines on the river and have been mining with impunity.
On seeing the Security Personnel, eight other members of the group; six Chinese and two Ghanaians fled the scene.
The two suspects were subsequently arrested and marched to the District Police Command to assist the police in further investigations.
Some illegal mining equipment were also found on-site and seized. The Police have since mounted a search for the remaining eight who are currently on the run.
On a two-day tour to the Western Region, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor issued a warning to all MMDAs to ensure the illegal mining menace becomes a thing of the past.
District Chief Executive for Wassa East, Wilson Arthur who led the raid told journalists they will ensure that all illegal miners within their jurisdiction are arrested.
