Thirteen individuals have been arrested in Wassa Gyapa, a mining community in Ghana’s Western Region, for their involvement in illegal mining.
The arrests were made during a police-led operation on May 19, 2025, which also resulted in the disabling of more than 120 changfang machines used for mining in water bodies.
The suspects, all men, were apprehended at the site and are scheduled to appear before the Tarkwa Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
In addition to the machinery, six motorbikes were also confiscated from the area.
This latest enforcement action is part of a broader nationwide effort to curb illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
These operations, which often devastate the environment and pollute water sources, have prompted a strong response from the Ghana Police Service.
“This is not just about arrests. It’s about protecting our rivers, farmlands and the lives of future generations,” said a police spokesperson from the Western Central Regional Command.
Earlier this month, a similar operation in the Eastern Region led to the arrest of 14 individuals at Akyem Muoso.
Those suspects were granted bail by the Koforidua Circuit Court.
During that operation, a firearm and excavator control boards were also retrieved.
The anti-galamsey crackdown is being led by the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno. In support of these efforts, the government has launched initiatives like the Blue Water Guards, a task force assigned to protect Ghana’s water bodies from illegal miners.
Communities continue to hope these actions bring lasting change to safeguard their land and livelihoods.
