1 Chinese, 5 Ghanaian ‘galamseyers’ arrested for destroying 50 acres of land
A Chinese national and five Ghanaians were arrested for trespassing on a mining concession in Twifo Atti-Morkwa District in the Central Region.
They were arrested on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, after days of surveillance by the mining company’s security personnel.
Before their arrest, the armed illegal miners had destroyed over 50 acres of the 120-acre concession belonging to the company.
They did this with the aid of excavators and other earth-moving equipment.
Upon questioning, the suspects claimed to be working for one Ernest, who is currently at large.
Nana Akwasi Yentumi Asante, Operations and Sustainability Manager of Zoar Mining Enterprise, the affected company, said the outfit had lost millions of Ghana cedis to illegal mining activities.
Meanwhile, the suspects have been handed over to the Ministries Police in Accra, following the instructions of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources officials.
READ ALSO: 2 Cops, 4 Chinese Nationals And Others Arrested Over Galamsey
Seven months ago, the Anti-Galamsey Taskforce apprehended four individuals illegally mining in the same district.
The team also retrieved two weapons from them.
The suspects were Musah Wangara (34), Isaac Owusu (48), Musah Alhassan (27), and William Toku (34).
The task force, led by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Twifo Atti-Morkwa, Robert Agyemang and the District Police Commander, confiscated additional equipment used in illegal mining activities.
The team visited communities where illegal miners had been muddying the Pra River, such as Maafi Wawase, Darmang, and Kojokrom.
The DCE said efforts to end the district’s illegal mining activities had proved futile.