The Ghana Police Service has arrested eight individuals — including three Burkinabe nationals — in a special operation targeting illegal mining activities at Denkyira Ayanfuri in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central North Region.
The high-impact swoop, which took place on Monday, June 17, 2025, was led by the Central North Regional Police Command following credible intelligence. It forms part of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno’s, nationwide crackdown on illegal mining (galamsey), a menace that continues to wreak havoc on Ghana’s environment and water bodies.
Arrest and Seized Items
According to the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Abraham Acquaye, a 25-member Anti-Galamsey Task Force, backed by three other senior officers, stormed the illegal mining site and arrested the suspects who were caught actively mining using cyanide and other unapproved tools.
Those arrested include: Isaac Odum, 39 (believed to be one of the site owners), Lazarus Sango, 44 (co-owner), Stephen Nkrumah, 30, Kofi Emmanuel, 23, John Nkrumah, 27, all Ghanaians.
The Burkinabe Nationals are Sulemana Naaba, 36, Benjamin Adibanga, 29 and Iddis Rogo, 30
Items retrieved from the site included: Five pumping machines, two rubber bowls filled with processed sand, A gasoline generator, one gallon of cyanide, a dangerous chemical commonly used in illegal gold extraction
The cyanide poses serious risks to the environment and public health, particularly when used without regulatory oversight.
All eight suspects are currently in custody at the Central North Regional Police Headquarters in Assin Fosu, assisting with ongoing investigations. The seized items have been secured as evidence for prosecution.
IGP’s Anti-Galamsey Agenda in Motion
In a press briefing, DCOP Acquaye explained that the arrests reflect the IGP’s new, aggressive strategy to curb illegal mining through intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration.
“This operation demonstrates our zero-tolerance approach to illegal mining and our firm commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment. The IGP has deployed over 60 additional personnel from the National Police Headquarters to intensify efforts in this region,” he said.
He also credited the Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, for his continued support in resourcing the police in their efforts to combat the galamsey menace.
Police Appeal for Public Support
DCOP Acquaye used the opportunity to urge the general public to report suspicious activities and provide information that can lead to further arrests of illegal miners and drug peddlers.
“Our doors are open. We need timely intelligence from residents to help us root out galamsey operations that are destroying farmlands, polluting rivers, and endangering lives,” he emphasized.
Environmental Threat
Illegal mining continues to threaten Ghana’s natural ecosystems, particularly through the contamination of rivers like Pra, Ankobra, and Offin. The use of harmful chemicals like cyanide and mercury in artisanal gold mining has raised alarm among environmental experts and public health advocates.
The latest arrests are part of a broader national effort to restore Ghana’s environment and ensure that mining activities are conducted legally, responsibly, and sustainably.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days.
By Peter Quao Adattor
