The Ghana Police Service has arrested 49 individuals for engaging in illegal mining activities during a series of intelligence-led operations across the country.
The operations took place in Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa in the Western Region; Akrokerri in the Ashanti Region; Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso in the Central Region; and along the Awin River at Pankese and Akyem Akwadum in the Eastern Region.
At Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa, the Western Central Regional Police Command arrested 19 suspects, disabled more than 135 changfan machines, and retrieved 23 water pumping machines, four excavator batteries, and a motorbike.
In Akrokerri, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command arrested nine suspects.
In the Eastern Region, 11 suspects were arrested at the Awin River and Akyem Akwadum. Police retrieved one excavator monitor, two excavator pedals, seven control boards, and a gold detecting device.
At Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso in the Central Region, the Central North Regional Police Command arrested 10 suspects and recovered four excavators, eight pumping machines, and a cylinder machine.
All suspects are in police custody assisting with ongoing investigations.
