Eight persons have been arrested in connection with illegal mining activities at the Amomaso Forest near the Berekum Municipality in the Bono Region.
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, the suspects were arrested following a distress call received on May 20, 2026, at approximately 4:00 p.m., which indicated that residents had detained certain individuals for participating in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
The statement clarified that upon receiving this information, the Berekum District Patrol Team proceeded to the location where they encountered some local youth who had already taken the suspects into custody.
The police reported that the suspects were found in possession of one pickaxe, four shovels, a water-pumping machine, and a woollen carpet allegedly used for washing gold.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police, re-arrested, and detained to facilitate investigations.
The suspects have been identified as Atule Nathaniel, 23; Azusiwine Cletus, 22; Ayaama Thomas, 15; Asigiya Joseph, 23; Aboyinga Aselise, 37; Atanbire Reymond, 20; Isaac Ntim, 46; and Aguya Isaac, 25.
The police stated that efforts are currently underway to prepare them for prosecution.
The Bono Regional Police Command praised the members of the Amomaso community for their cooperation and encouraged the public to continue reporting illegal mining activities to the police.
