The Eastern regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, has disclosed that the arrest of seven illegal miners was made during a coordinated operation involving personnel from the first Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Southern Command, and the Eastern Regional Police Command.
The task force visited several mining hotspots, including Atiwa West, Kwaebibirem, Lower West Akim, Denkyembuor, Ayensuano, and Fanteakwa South.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (14 April) Awatey said, “We arrested seven men, all Ghanaians,” she confirmed.
“Looking at them, we realised they are just workers for some financiers. These are the people we met at the site and we arrested them.”
The operation also led to the seizure of various items, including excavators, water pumps, batteries, chainsaws, pump action guns, and a gold weighing scale. According to the Minister, these items suggest a highly organised illegal mining setup. The seven suspects are currently in the custody of the Eastern Regional Police Command.
“This is a special joint effort,” she explained, “and we are making sure illegal mining in the region is stopped. Our men are still on the land to ensure our environment is protected, our waters remain clean, and our forests are safe.”
Speaking about the possibility of arresting the financiers behind the illegal operations, Awatey stated, “We are working on arresting the people working for them. We are surely going to get the people behind them. The security services are handling that.”
She also responded to suggestions about the sustainability of such military-backed interventions. While acknowledging that opinions differ on the military’s role in anti-Galamsey efforts, she reiterated the commitment of the Regional Security Council (RESEC) to continue its operations.
“We’ve decided to reconstitute the task force and we are determined. We are just informing the people of the Eastern Region that the fight is still on,” she said.
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