Galamsey: 9 Arrested, 4 Excavators Seized in Raid at Akani

A special police task force battling illegal mining activities has intercepted and seized four excavators in a major operation at Akani, near Asankragua in the Western Region.

The bold enforcement effort, led by officers from the Police Headquarters Special Operations Unit, followed credible intelligence about the suspicious movement of heavy-duty mining equipment outside the Samreboï Township.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Eric Asiedu, Director of Special Operations, two of the seized excavators were being transported on low-bed trucks, allegedly under escort by armed men believed to be military personnel.

The team, led by ASP MrAdorye, mounted a swift interception of the trucks, successfully halting the movement of the excavators. Prior to the interception, the police had conducted a coordinated raid at an illegal mining site in Akani, on the outskirts of Asankragua.

That raid resulted in:

• Nine arrests
• Seizure of mining equipment
• Disruption of ongoing illegal mining operations

ACP Asiedu stated that the operation is part of a broader strategy to support the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) vision of protecting Ghana’s natural resources and curbing illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

“We remain committed to our mission to dismantle illegal mining networks and secure the integrity of our environment,” he said.

All seized equipment, including the four excavators, is now in police custody as investigations continue.

Authorities have also assured the public of continued surveillance and enforcement in known illegal mining hotspots across the country.

The latest operation underscores growing inter-agency collaboration in the fight against illegal mining nd signals a tougher stance on individuals and entities engaged in illicit exploitation of Ghana’s mineral resources.