The Ghana Police Service has arrested forty-nine (49) individuals for engaging in illegal mining activities at multiple locations across the country.
The arrests form part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining.
According to reports, the operations took place in the Western Region (Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa), the Ashanti Region (Akrokerri), the Central Region (Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso), and the Eastern Region, specifically along the Awin River at Pankese and Akyem Akwadum.
It has been revealed that Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno has initiated a series of operations targeting illegal mining activities.
All arrested suspects across the various operations are currently in police custody and assisting with ongoing investigations.
The galamseyers are expected to be formally charged in the coming days.
The Ghana Police have indicated that further operations are planned as part of sustained efforts to combat illegal mining and its environmental impacts.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has declared mining in Ghana’s forest reserves will be banned permanently.
Speaking on the progress of his administration’s first 120 days, President Mahama stated, “The first 120 days, we’ve taken decisive action through a five-point strategy to overhaul and sanitise the mining sector. This includes regulatory reforms and strengthening law enforcement, including joint task forces, arrest and seizure of mining equipment, stakeholder collaboration, and reclamation of degraded lands.
“Seven out of nine reserves have been reclaimed, and illegal miners have been flushed out of these forest reserves,” Mahama said.
“Concerning the ban on mining in forest reserves, on March 20, 2025, a legislative instrument L.I. 2462 was presented to Parliament to amend the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation. This amendment removes the president’s power to approve mining in forest reserves,” he explained.
“I also plan to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2003 (Act 703) to completely prohibit mining in forest reserves. This would effectively, meticulously, legally, and entirely ban mining in our forest reserves,” he stated.
See the post below:
The Ghana Police Service has arrested forty-nine (49) individuals for engaging in illegal mining activities at multiple locations across the country. The arrests form part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining.
The operations took place in the Western Region (Huniso,… pic.twitter.com/L84VOXPJTt
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) June 2, 2025
