Twelve individuals arrested for engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) activities near Princess Town in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region have been remanded into prison custody by the Takoradi Harbour Area Circuit Court ‘A’.
The accused were apprehended during a coordinated intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service. Ten of the suspects were arrested at a palm plantation in Tumetu, while two others were picked up at the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) plantation in Elluabo.
The suspects have been identified as: 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
During the operation, police retrieved the following items from the illegal mining sites: Four (4) water, pumping machines, One (1) tricycle with registration number M-20-WR 1045 and Two (2) motorbikes
All twelve suspects reportedly admitted to the offence during police interrogation.
They were arraigned and subsequently remanded into custody at Sekondi Prison, with the court adjourning the case to Tuesday, 8th July 2025, for further hearing.
The Ghana Police Service has reiterated its commitment to supporting national anti-galamsey efforts and called on the public to continue providing actionable information.
By Peter Quao Adattor
