Police in Ghana’s Central North Region have arrested eight individuals in Ayanfuri in a renewed effort to clamp down on illegal mining and the drug trade linked to it.
The arrests came during a joint operation aimed at curbing environmental destruction and organised crime in the area.
Among those arrested were five Ghanaians and three Burkinabe nationals. The group includes Isaac Odum, 39, and Lazarus Sango, 44, believed to be key players in the operation.
Officers also detained Stephen Nkrumah, 30, Kofi Emmanuel, 23, and John Nkrumah, 27, along with Sulemana Naaba, 36, Benjamin Adibanga, 29, and Iddis Rogo, 30.
The police seized several items during the raid, including five water pumps, a gasoline generator, bowls of sand believed to contain gold, and a gallon of cyanide.
The use of cyanide in these unregulated operations raises serious concerns about water pollution and health risks, especially as many rivers across Ghana are already unsafe for use.
At a press briefing, Central North Regional Police Commander DCOP Abraham Acquaye said all suspects remain in custody and will be prosecuted. He also pointed to a major roadblock.
“Our efforts are being slowed by the Assin Fosu District Court’s closure, which has lasted more than four months,” he said.
The court’s inactivity forces police to release some suspects on bail, weakening enforcement.
Still, the command is receiving reinforcements from the Police Headquarters to sustain pressure on illegal miners.
DCOP Acquaye also called on the public to report suspicious activity, underlining the importance of community support in protecting the environment and enforcing the law.