Seven people have been arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities, known as “galamsey,” along the Black Volta River at Chiantanga, a community near Dorimon in Ghana’s Wa West District.
The suspects, identified as Sabugu Razak, Ibrahim Zuberu, Alex Amedzake, John Cobblah, Promise Dufe, Angelina Akpese, and Rebecca Tumawu, were apprehended on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
The operation resulted in the retrieval of several items from the illegal mining site, including:
12 Changfang machines, two unregistered PNE and Apsonic tricycles, two motorbikes with registration numbers M-AD NR 6010 and M-23-UW 4413, two unregistered Hague and Apsonic motorbikes and six student mattresses.
The Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nii Darko Offei Lomotey, said the Command’s commitment to combating illegal mining, and the importance of preserving the environment and protecting vital water sources like the Black Volta River are prominent on their.
“The police will not relent in our efforts to rid the region of illegal mining activities that endanger the lives and livelihoods of our people,” DCOP Lomotey said.
The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with investigations.
They are expected to be arraigned before court in the coming days.
Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activities related to illegal mining to aid in the fight against environmental degradation.
