Excavators, guns seized in major anti-galamsey raid in Ashanti Region

A coordinated security operation in the Ashanti Region has delivered a significant blow to illegal mining activities, with authorities seizing five heavy-duty excavators and a cache of firearms in the forested areas of Mpasaaso and Achiase.

The June 2, 2025 operation—led by the Mankranso District Police Command in collaboration with the Ahafo Ano South West District Assembly—was part of an intensified crackdown on galamsey, the locally coined term for illegal small-scale mining that continues to threaten Ghana’s environment.

According to a police statement signed by DSP Godwin Ahianyo, Head of Public Affairs for the Ashanti Regional Police Command, the security team raided active mining sites after gathering intelligence on ongoing illicit operations. The suspected miners, sensing danger, fled into the bush, leaving behind valuable equipment and a troubling stash of weapons.

Recovered items from the deserted sites include:

One (1) 9mm CAL pistol with three live rounds

Four (4) pump-action guns

Twelve (12) BB live cartridges

Five (5) AA live cartridges

Five (5) earth-moving excavators

The impounded excavators are now secured at the premises of the District Assembly, while the firearms and ammunition are being held by the Mankranso Police for further investigation.

Authorities believe the miners may have been operating under the protection of armed guards—a development that highlights the growing criminal networks entangled with illegal mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.

DSP Ahianyo praised the joint task force for the successful operation and appealed to the public for continued collaboration. “We encourage residents to volunteer reliable information that can help us arrest those behind these unlawful activities,” he urged.

This latest raid adds to mounting national efforts to curb environmental destruction caused by galamsey. Communities in the region, along with environmental activists, have long demanded tougher measures to safeguard water bodies, farmlands, and forests.

As law enforcement steps up operations in mining-prone districts, Monday’s bust serves as a reminder of both the scale of the challenge and the commitment of local authorities to tackle it head-on.