11 Chinese illegal miners arrested in Ankobra river crackdown
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The arrests were made during a high-impact operation on Thursday, June 19, as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining—locally known as galamsey—particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like riverbanks and forest reserves.
A military-led task force under the National Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 11 Chinese nationals engaged in illegal mining activities in Ellembelle, Western Region.
The arrests were made during a high-impact operation on Thursday, June 19, as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining—locally known as galamsey—particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like riverbanks and forest reserves.
The operation, which forms part of a broader crackdown across the region, saw the task force storm Akropong, a community in Ellembelle, where the Chinese miners were discovered actively working near the Ankobra River.
Heavy-duty mining equipment and vehicles—including excavators, Changfans, and other logistics—were seized during the raid. Structures and stores that could not be retrieved were demolished and set ablaze to prevent future use.
The 11 suspects were transported to Accra and formally handed over to Senior Inspector Jyampah of the Ghana Immigration Service for further investigations and possible deportation or prosecution. The handover took place on Friday, June 20, at around 7:20 a.m.
According to NAIMOS, this operation follows similar successful interventions in Jomoro and Evalue Dwira and reflects the government's intensified resolve to dismantle illegal mining networks.
Sector Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending galamsey for good, especially in protected areas such as water bodies and forests. He emphasized that the fight is ongoing and will not relent.
