Ghana Police have arrested twenty-seven men in a sweeping anti-illegal mining operation at Ankaase Gyadam, near Asamang Tamfoe in the Eastern Region.
The suspects were apprehended in the early hours of Friday during a coordinated intelligence-led operation targeting illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey. According to the Ghana Police Service, the men were actively engaged in unauthorized mining at multiple sites when officers moved in.
A statement released on the Ghana Police Service’s official Facebook page confirmed the arrests and detailed a cache of equipment seized from the scene. Among the items recovered were 11 excavators, a bulldozer, a pump-action shotgun, three saloon vehicles, a Mitsubishi pickup truck, a pick loader, and several water-pumping machines.
Some individuals reportedly attempted to obstruct the police operation, attacking officers with machetes and other offensive weapons, though no injuries were reported.
“All suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. The seized equipment and weapons have been placed in secure custody,” the statement added.
The latest crackdown is part of renewed efforts by security agencies to combat illegal mining operations, which continue to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s environment, water bodies, and local communities.
Environmental activists and local leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the devastation caused by galamsey, calling for more sustained enforcement of mining regulations.
The Ghana Police Service says it remains committed to restoring law and order in affected areas and bringing all perpetrators of illegal mining to justice.
