GAF confirms arrest of 2 soldiers over extortion

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed the arrest of two soldiers in connection with alleged extortion activities associated with ‘galamsey’.

The two soldiers, along with two civilians, are reported to have attempted a robbery at the Longshine Mining Company.

The police arrested them due to their purported involvement in the robbery attempt, which took place at the Longshine Mining Company Limited, located in Obouhu, a suburb of Prestea in the Western Region.

A video that has circulated on social media depicts the uniformed officers being escorted into a police vehicle for transfer to Accra, where further investigations are anticipated.

Circumstances surrounding the attempted robbery remain unclear; the arrests have sparked concerns regarding the increasing trend of security personnel being implicated in violent offences.

Confirming the arrests in a statement released in Accra on Thursday evening, October 2, 2025, Navy Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, the Acting Director General responsible for Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces, stated that the army is collaborating with the police to verify the allegations.

The incident is reported to have occurred on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

“If found culpable, the personnel will face the law as any citizen of Ghana,” she added, emphasising that the GAF will not “shield its personnel involved in criminal activities”.