A/R: 15 Excavators Seized, Two Chinese Nationals Arrested in Anti-Galamsey Raid
Government intensifies fight against illegal mining as Minister warns of strict consequences for offenders
- Authorities seize heavy machinery used for illegal mining
- Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah warns all involved
- The Minister dismisses calls from influential individuals seeking to free arrested suspects.
In a decisive move against illegal mining, authorities have arrested two Chinese nationals for engaging in ‘galamsey’ within the Offin Shelter Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
The joint operation, spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources alongside the Ashanti Regional Security Council, also led to the confiscation of 15 excavators used in unauthorized mining activities.
With concerns growing over the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, the government has ramped up efforts to combat the menace. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling the issue, revealing that influential individuals have already attempted to interfere in the crackdown.
“We are coming after you. You have a choice—leave now or be arrested along with your co-conspirators. Investigations are ongoing, targeting miners, financiers, and those renting out excavators. They will all face the full rigors of the law,” Kofi Buah warned.
He also issued a stern message to those seeking to intervene on behalf of arrested individuals. “Yesterday, I received a call asking me to release the Chinese nationals. I made it clear—the only person who can instruct me is the President, and let me assure you, the President will not call anybody,” he asserted.
