A joint security operation at an illegal mining (galamsey) site near the Sanso Methodist School in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region has led to the arrest of 15 suspected illegal miners, including the alleged kingpin.
The joint security operation at an illegal mining site led to the confiscation of three excavators.
According to reports, the operation was launched after a viral social media video exposed ongoing illegal mining activities close to the school, after the video caught the attention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene.
Captain (Rtd) John Jabari, the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, speaking on TV3, disclosed that the joint security operation was made up of National Security operatives, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and military personnel was deployed to the site after the report was confirmed.
Captain (Rtd) John Jabari stated, “So quickly, we dispatched our team at Obuasi to confirm whether the video was true. And when they confirmed it was true, a team of national security, NAIMOS and soldiers were dispatched to the location. So, about 1:30 pm, we got to the location, and we were able to apprehend about 15 suspects and got three excavators from the location. We were able to arrest the kingpin”.
“The Regional Minister has ordered that reclamation efforts should commence before the students get back to school. So on Monday, August 3, the regional reclamation team will be going to assess the site, then they will try to close or refill the area back to its original position so that the students don’t get hurt when they get back to school,” he assured.
In related news, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has admitted that Ghana’s fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey is difficult.
According to the Lands Minister, there are significant challenges facing the government’s fight against illegal mining.
He, however, stressed that the government will not relent ot surrender in the fight against galamsey.
The Lands Minister described illegal mining as one of the greatest environmental threats facing Ghana.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 15, the minister stated, “The fight against illegal mining is a defining environmental battle that our generation must fight. Our rivers are not for sale, our forests are not expendable, our mineral wealth is a sacred inheritance that we have a duty to protect. The era of impunity is over, and the government will continue to pursue everyone who profits from the destruction of our environment.
“The battle against illegal mining is difficult, but the Ghanaian spirit is stronger. We will not retreat, we will not relent, and we will not surrender, but we shall reclaim our rivers, restore our forests, protect our natural wealth and secure a greener, stronger and more prosperous Ghana for posterity.”
He further added that over 200 galamsey suspects have been arrested in six months.
“In the last six months, we arrested 258 suspects, demobilised six excavators, 1,225 pumping machines were seized, we demobilised 765 Changfan machines, we destroyed 35 tricycles, motorbikes that were seized were 212, structures destroyed 430, and gold detectors that were seized were 40. All these in the forest reserves alone,” Armah-Kofi Buah noted.
“And I’m happy to say that today I’m not here to tell you about red zones, because we have not had any red zone, which means that government supporting the Forestry Commission is firmly in control of our forests,” he said.
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