Four individuals, three Chinese nationals and one Ghanaian, have been arrested in the Shama District of the Western Region for suspected illegal mining activities. National Security operatives apprehended the suspects along the Pra River near Supom-Dunkwa, uncovering an operation allegedly disguised as sand winning. The suspects' names have not yet been released.
According to Hashem Tankonu, a National Security operative who led the operation, illegal mining groups are increasingly using sand winning as a cover for their activities. He described a scene where the suspects' galamsey operation was cleverly concealed behind a seemingly legitimate sand-winning operation. "Behind the house at the corner," he explained, "there is a galamsey set up… they are doing sand winning and they are doing the galamsey alongside the sand winning and you will not suspect it."
This arrest highlights the ongoing challenges Ghana faces in combating illegal mining, often referred to as "galamsey." The sophisticated methods employed by these groups underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and investigative techniques. The suspects have been handed over to the Western Regional Police Command in Sekondi for further investigation and prosecution.
The details surrounding the scale of the operation and the specific charges against the suspects are yet to be released. This incident serves as another reminder of the persistent threat of galamsey and the government's ongoing efforts to curb this destructive practice.
