Eight individuals have been arrested by police for allegedly impersonating national security operatives and robbing illegal miners in Assin Awisam in the Central Region.
The suspects, one of whom is said to be the son of a Municipal Chief Executive reportedly arrived in the community on Friday afternoon in a black Mitsubishi pick-up truck (registration GS 8293-18) and a Toyota Voxy.
Reports indicate that the group carried out an operation during which they took valuables from miners, including gold, cash, and mobile phones, though the exact quantity of gold has not been disclosed.
Their actions angered residents, who claim the group has repeatedly extorted miners while posing as state security officers.
Some community members confronted the suspects, deflated their vehicle tyres, and attempted to lynch them.
Community leaders intervened, restoring calm and handing the suspects over to police in Awisam.
Tensions remained high after the arrests, with a group of angry youth surrounding the police station.
This prompted the Assin North Regional Police Command to deploy additional officers. The suspects were later moved to Assin Foso under heavy security.
During initial questioning, the suspects reportedly admitted taking some mobile phones but denied stealing gold.
All eight individuals are currently in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations.
A local youth leader, George Anokye, said the incident is not an isolated case.
He alleged that the same group has been harassing miners for some time, including a previous incident last year in which they reportedly set fire to a miner’s water pumping machine after he failed to meet their demands despite allegedly paying GH¢120,000.
He warned that if authorities do not act quickly, continued incidents of alleged extortion under the guise of anti-galamsey operations could further escalate tensions in the community.
