The Ghana Police Service has ramped up its efforts against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, resulting in the arrest of 208 suspects and the recovery of 99 excavators in a sweeping nationwide operation.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, May 13, the intensified anti-galamsey campaign, carried out from March to May 2025, focused on key mining hotspots across multiple regions, with the Western Region seeing the largest haul. In coordinated raids around Samreboi, Wassa Dunkwa, Tigarikrom, and surrounding communities, 58 suspects—including 8 Chinese nationals—were arrested, and authorities recovered 85 excavators and 3 bulldozers.
Additional operations included:
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Western Region: 19 suspects arrested, along with 3 excavators and 3 pump-action guns.
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Eastern South Region: 24 suspects, including one Burkinabe, detained with 5 excavators and a cache of firearms.
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Upper West Region: 7 Ghanaians arrested; 11 changfangs and 3 motorbikes impounded.
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Western Central Region: 85 individuals—9 of them Chinese—apprehended, with 11 excavators recovered.
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Eastern North Region: 15 suspects arrested, including one Chinese national; police seized equipment including control boards, monitors, and a pistol.
In total, police confiscated a range of illegal mining tools and equipment, including excavators, bulldozers, firearms, changfangs, generators, and gold detectors. All those arrested are currently facing legal action.
The Ghana Police Service reaffirmed its dedication to fighting illegal mining and urged public cooperation in preserving the country’s natural environment and resources.
