A sweeping operation by National Security operatives in the Banda District of the Bono Region has led to the arrest of 30 foreign nationals suspected of engaging in illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Banda, Peter Dongi, revealed the development in an interview with Asaase News.
He said the arrests were made following the deployment of National Security personnel to tackle the alarming rise in illegal mining activities threatening the area’s natural resources and community livelihood.
“All 30 foreigners were apprehended at the Banda Wewa galamsey site and have since been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for repatriation,” Dongi confirmed.
The crackdown did not stop at arrests. According to the DCE, officers on the ground seized and destroyed a range of mining equipment believed to have been used in the illicit operations as part of efforts to disrupt the activities at their source.
“This was not just about removing people from the sites,” he explained. “We made sure the tools they use to destroy our land – chanfang machines and all – were taken out of operation.”
The operation spanned across several illegal mining enclaves, including Tainano, Surgbo, Nipa ne Kuro, Apatakese, and Awomekope, all of them located upstream of the Bui Lake. These areas, once peaceful and green, have become battlegrounds for environmental protection as illegal miners relentlessly exploit the land and water resources.
Dongi reaffirmed the unwavering determination of government and local authorities to protect the district’s environment and ensure long-term sustainability.
“We are serious about this. This is about the future of our children. We cannot allow our rivers to be poisoned and our lands destroyed for short-term profit.”
He further assured residents that the fight against galamsey is being supported at the highest levels of government, with a coordinated effort led by President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Member of Parliament for Banda, Ahmed Ibrahim, and the Banda District Assembly.
“This fight requires collective effort,” Dongi emphasised. “It is not just about enforcement; it’s about safeguarding the socio-economic future of Ghana.”
Report by Daniel Donkor for Asaase News in the Bono Region
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