The Ghana Police Service has stepped up its fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, with a series of coordinated and intelligence-led operations that have led to the arrest of 38 suspects and the seizure and destruction of mining equipments across the Western and Central Regions.
This was made public through an official press statement published on the Ghana Police Service’s verified Facebook page on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
In a major operation which took place in the Wassa Akropong District of the Western Region, police arrested 23 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining activities. The arrests were made along the Wassa Akropong–Japa–Dadieso road. The team also stormed the Obeng Mining Group site at Wassa Japa, where they disabled 64 changfan machines, locally fabricated mining machines often used for illegal operations on river bodies.
The operation did not stop there. In Wassa Dominase, officers responded swiftly to intelligence about illegal mining activities near the Goil and Energy Oil filling stations along the Agona Amenfi–Gyedua Kesse Junction road. Seven more changfan machines and washing boards were destroyed. The police also retrieved three water pumping machines and a pickaxe from the scene.
In a separate operation at Asankrangwa, police followed up on reports of illegal mining close to a One District One Factory (1D1F) building along the Asankra Saah–Asankra Kwabeng road. That action led to the retrieval of three water pumping machines and four motorbikes believed to be used in the illegal activities. All 23 suspects arrested in these operations are currently in custody and assisting police with investigations.
Meanwhile, in the Ahanta West Municipality near Princess Town, 12 persons caught in a previous anti-galamsey operation have been remanded into prison custody by the Takoradi Harbour Area Circuit Court ‘A’.
Ten of them were arrested at a palm plantation, while the other two were apprehended at the Elluabo Chavene Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) plantation. Items seized included four water pumping machines, a tricycle, and two motorbikes.
The suspects: Lord Yankey, Caleb Adu Kwaw, Stephen Agyei, Ebenezer Barnes, Mathew Somagevi, Paa Grant, Bashiru Kaviru, Joseph Borney, Aminu Issah, Kofi Sogah, Albert Normah, and Robert Mensah , all admitted to the offence during interrogation. They have been remanded to appear again on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
In another bold move in the Central Region, the Police Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force arrested three more individuals: Prosper Quansah, Chrispin Nartey, and Owusu Gambra, during an operation at Adeade, on Friday, 20th June 2025.
A large Sany excavator, four unregistered Haojin motorbikes, and a lowbed truck with registration number GN 2136-24 were seized.
Earlier at Nikanika on the same day, the task force retrieved a loaded single-barrel shotgun and three water pumping machines, though no suspects were found at the scene.
All suspects in the Central Region are also in police custody, assisting with investigations. According to the Police, all confiscated items are secured as exhibits.
These latest operations highlight the Ghana Police Service’s strengthened commitment to fighting illegal mining across the country. Authorities say more intelligence-led actions will follow to protect Ghana’s natural resources and ensure environmental safety.
