13 Persons Arrested As GAF Seizes over 20,000 Pieces Of Illegal Explosives

Personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces have confiscated approximately 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and around 20,000 pieces of explosive charges in a special raid.

The raid was at the premises of Mohammed Brothers Company Limited and Dakete Mines in Tarkwa.

The ammonium nitrate was reportedly hidden in flour and rice sacks.

The seizure was part of a crackdown on the manufacture, sale, and use of illegal dynamite in the country’s mining areas. The operation was led by personnel from the 2nd Infantry Battalion, who acted on detailed intelligence.

The military’s action is part of a broader effort to curb the use of illegal and dangerous explosive materials in the mining sector

13 individuals, including eight Chinese, three Togolese, one Ivorian, and one Nigerian, were arrested during the operation. They are suspected of involvement in the illegal production and distribution of dynamite.

Dynamite made from ammonium nitrate has been linked to several deadly mining accidents in Ghana in recent years. The country has been striving to improve safety standards in its mining industry, which is a major source of employment and foreign exchange.

Authorities have warned that those involved in the illegal production and distribution of explosives will face severe penalties.