The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners Taskforce has apprehended five individuals for illegal mining activities in the Birim River at Mampong, located in the Atewa East District of the Eastern Region.
During the operation, the task force set ablaze 40 changfans and seized two newly built changfans that were about to be deployed into the river by the illegal miners. The suspects were part of a group of persistent illegal miners who had returned to the site just days after a military operation had cleared the area and destroyed several changfans.
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Two of the arrested individuals were caught in the act, mining in the middle of the Birim River when the task force surrounded them. While leaving the site, the task force intercepted a truck transporting two newly built changfans. The two occupants of the truck fled but were quickly apprehended after a chase.
A fifth suspect, identified as Nana Kwadwo Ayimadu, who claimed ownership of the changfans, attempted to prevent the task force from towing the truck but was also arrested.
All five suspects have been taken into custody at the Kibi District Police Command and are expected to face court soon. The truck and newly built changfans have been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Mr. Thomas Larbi, Treasurer of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners, confirmed the arrests and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to curbing illegal mining activities that pollute the nation’s water bodies.
