Seven people have been arrested in Abora, Upper Denkyira West District of Ghana’s Central Region, for their involvement in illegal mining activities, in a fresh clampdown by the regional police command.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out by officers who stormed the site where the suspects were allegedly actively engaged in “galamsey”.
The suspects have been named as Latif Abdul Gyimah, 55, Mohammed Bello, 44, George Azu, 52, Kingsley Owusu, 23, Sampson Afadzi, 45, Simon Atakpo, 21, and Andrews Otto, 26. They are currently in police custody and assisting with investigations.
During the operation, authorities seized a cache of weapons and equipment believed to be used in the illicit mining operations. Among the items confiscated were one single-barrel shotgun, two Mossberg pump-action shotguns with serial numbers T069032 and T075882, and 26 live cartridges.
Police also impounded two excavators, two Hyundai excavator monitors, three unregistered motorbikes, one Haojin tricycle, and a newly installed water pump machine, all believed to be linked to the mining activity.
The Central Regional Police Command has reiterated its commitment to fighting illegal mining, which has caused severe environmental degradation and pollution of water bodies in many parts of Ghana.